NATION NOW

Dogs rescued from South Korean dog meat farm arrive in U.S.

Mary Bowerman

USA TODAY Network

A dog named Velia is shown at the St. Huberts Animal Shelter in Madison, N.J. on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. Humane Society International rescued the dogs from a dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea, the fifth such farm that the organization has closed down as part of its campaign to end the dog meat trade. A total of 171 dogs are being flown to shelters and rescues in the United States and Canada for a second chance at life.

More than one hundred dogs rescued from a meat farm in South Korea are arriving at shelters and rescues across the United States this week.

The 171 animals are the final group of 250 dogs whose lives were secured through an agreement between a dog meat farmer and Humane Society International last December. The farmer, who lives in Wonju, South Korea, reached out to Humane Society International last year and asked for help getting out of the business, according to Adam Parascandola, Director of Animal Protection and Crisis Response.

"Almost every farmer we’ve spoken to doesn’t want to be in the business, most never planned to go into the business, but feel really trapped in it," Parascandola said.

While many South Koreans do not typically eat dog meat, there is a spike in dog meat consumption during the summer months, especially when the country marks Bok Nal from mid-July to August, according to Parascandola.

During Bok Nal, or the long and hot dog days of summer, some South Koreans believe that consuming dog meat helps cool the blood and keeps them energized.

According to Humane Society International, thousands of dogs are slaughtered during Bok Nal, when an estimated 60-80% of the entire year's dog meat is eaten in just two months.

Parascandola said the animals are often kept in deplorable conditions and given little food and next-to-no water.

"It’s basically like factory farming of dogs, so there are many times, multiple dogs or even if it is one dog in (...) very tiny cages where they have barely enough room to move around at all in them," Parascandola said.

Parascandola notes that this is the fifth South Korean dog meat farm that Humane Society International has worked to shut down. He says despite living in horrific conditions, many of the rescued animals can adapt to normal life.

“Even though many have never even come out of their cages, we’ve found the majority have adapted quickly and been able to be moved into homes,” he said.

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