29 Dogs Arrive in San Diego After Rescued From ‘Meat' Farm

Twenty-nine dogs meant for slaughter in South Korea arrived in San Diego Thursday after being saved as part of a Humane Society International rescue effort. 

The dogs, which are mostly ages 1 to 2 years old with a few 4-month-old to 9-month-old puppies, had been slated to be killed in the Korean dog meat trade, officials with the organization said.  

They are mostly mastiffs, but also Jindo-mixes and Chihuahuas. The dogs arrived in Southern California following a special flight from South Korea to San Francisco International Airport.

“Our goal is to end animal suffering in any form it takes. The dog meat trade is one of the most horrific forms of cruelty and we’ve taken on helping these animals as an urgent mission for San Diego Humane Society,” said Dr. Gary Weitzman, HSI president and CEO, in a statement.

The Humane Society International has saved more than 100 dogs from being killed for meat, it said.

Veterinarians and care staff will spend the next few days checking the health of the dogs to prepare them for eventual adoption.

HSI officials said they are working in some Asian countries to help dog meat farmers transition to other ways of making a living.

The Los Angeles Times reported that an estimated 2 million dogs are killed for food each year in South Korea, citing the Korean Association for Policy Studies.

But the tradition has faced a backlash inside the country and many restaurants have reportedly stopped serving the meat.

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