30 dogs are rescued from a South Korean meat farm and brought to San Diego

Thirty Korean dogs and puppies that otherwise might have been someone’s dinner are getting a new lease on life this week after Humane Society officials rescued the canines and brought them to San Diego.

The animals had been living in crowded and filthy cages at a South Korean meat farm when they were rescued through a program sponsored by Humane Society International, San Diego Humane Society spokeswoman Stacy Archambault said.

Many of the dogs — which range from 6 months to 2 years old and include golden retrievers, huskies and Korean mastiffs — had lived in cages all their lives. They were subjected to daily cruelty and had very little food or veterinary care, Archambault said. Many suffered from malnutrition and disease.

The dogs were flown to San Francisco and picked up by Humane Society personnel, who brought them to San Diego for medical treatment. Many were afraid, Archambault said, and were being given time to adjust to their new surroundings.

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“Helping to end the horrors of the dog-meat trade is a critical mission for us,” said Gary Weitzman of the San Diego Humane Society. “We have pledged to keep San Diego at zero euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals — and we will keep that promise — but that doesn’t mean we will ever turn our backs on other animals in need.”

debbi.baker@sduniontribune.com

Baker writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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