Humane Society International (HSI) recently rescued a group of 57 dogs from a dog-meat farm in South Korea. The dogs were rescued and transported to Northern California.
This rescue effort included both HSI and the Change for Animals Foundation, according to USA Today. The 57 dogs saved were puppies and adults.
During their stay on the dog-meat farm, the pooches lived in awful conditions, trapped in cages that were tiny, dirty, unlit, and unheated. The dogs were supposedly bound to dog-meat markets. They would have been killed by being beaten, hung, or electrocuted; and then butchered.
The breeds of the dogs ranged from beagles to Korean Jindos, and from poodles to Tosas. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in San Francisco will care for the hounds until they are ready to be adopted.
The dogs were rescued from a dog-meat farm located outside Seoul. Since then, the owner has promised to raise chili peppers rather than dog-meat.
Jennifer Chung, SF SPCA board of directors member, observed that the dogs are amazing animals that survived "unthinkable conditions." She hopes eventually to end dog-eating totally.
Thousands of dog-meat farms exist in South Korea, and 2 million canines are killed there for food yearly. In China, tens of thousands of dogs are also captured for hot pot dishes during summertime dog-meat festivals.
HSI is also attempting to end the dog meat trade in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. Older people tend to eat dog-meat in such Asian countries, believing that it will benefit their health.
Wayne Pacelle, CEO of U.S. Humane Society, explains that dogs used as food in South Korea are usually canines that are not pure breed pets. The organization is using campaigns to encourage "meat dogs" also being used as "pet dogs."
For now, the rescued dogs are already living happier lives in their new home as they await loving pet owners. HSI will be shipping them to various Emergency Placement Partners throughout the U.S., according to HNGN.