Five dogs destined for slaughter overseas arrived at YVR Saturday night to begin their new life with B.C. families.

The dogs were saved by a rescue group in Thailand from the illegal meat trade, were they would have been transported in deplorable conditions - packed into tiny cages and often tortured to tenderize the meat – before being killed.

L.E.A.S.H., a Vancouver-area group that specializes in giving disadvantaged pups a new lease on life, partnered with Soi Dog in Thailand to bring over animals trafficked into the dog meat trade.

Eating dog meat is illegal in Thailand but it’s not in neighboring countries and the group says stray pups – and even many cherished family pets – are captured and transported out of Thailand in crammed crates and trucks to be slaughtered.

“These guys came from horrible conditions where they were jammed into cages loaded on to large trucks and headed towards the border,” said Cassi MacDonald, spokesperson for L.E.A.S.H., after the dogs arrived at the airport.

At least 10,000 dogs are kidnapped and transported out of Thailand each year, and millions more are killed for human consumption in Southeast Asia annually, says Soi Dog.

Undercover agents with the Royal Thai Police and Navy have arrested dozens of smugglers and stopped many trucks packed with dogs in the past year, in part thanks to billboards urging citizens to anonymously report suspicious activity.

Those rescued dogs end up at the shelter for Soi Dog, where they are rehabilitated before being rehomed. They are currently housing more than 1,200 adoptable dogs.

L.E.A.S.H. has committed to bringing eight of these dogs to Metro Vancouver: Buster, Cherish, Trayat, Satia, and Woodpecker are the first to arrive.

The canines will initially be housed with foster families, and as they become accustomed to their new surroundings they will be adopted out to permanent homes.

“It’s absolutely pathetic and disgusting where these dogs have come from, so to be a part of saving one of them is an amazing feeling,” said foster parent Deanne Desjairlais.

“We’re going to look for some potential adopters who have some love to give in their homes,” added L.E.A.S.H. spokesperson Valerie Webster. “And we're looking forward to getting these dogs in Canada and happy as can be.”

Interested adopters are asked to visit the rescue agency’s website and Facebook page.

With files from CTV Vancouver’s Scott Roberts