Dogs rescued from South Korean meat farm brought to S.F.

Dr. Kate Kuzminski (left) and Adam Parascandola transport Delilah, a Tosa mix, to a crate in San Francisco. Dr. Kate Kuzminski (left) and Adam Parascandola transport Delilah, a Tosa mix, to a crate in San Francisco. Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 10 Caption Close Dogs rescued from South Korean meat farm brought to S.F. 1 / 10 Back to Gallery

Thirteen frightened young dogs and puppies arrived in San Francisco in a van Thursday, some trembling, tails between their legs, others with sad but hopeful eyes, and all of them unaware of how close they came to an agonizing, gruesome death.

They were the last of 57 dogs that were rescued from a dog meat farm in South Korea, part of a program by Humane Society International to bring awareness to and ultimately end the cruel treatment and consumption of canines.

The dogs were brought to the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where clapping and cheers were heard when the first terrified canine, a 120-pound short-haired mastiff-type breed known as a Tosa, was carried out of his crate.

The muscular, droopy-eyed dog, whom humane society workers named Austin, sat back in his crate and silently resisted when workers put a leash on him and tried to lure him out.

“C’mon, sweetheart,” cajoled Adam Parascandola, the director of animal protection and crisis response for Humane Society International. Workers were forced to remove the top of the crate and carry the panting dog into his plush cage at the SPCA.

“This is very frightening for them,” Parascandola said. “These guys have never been out of their cages, let alone off the farm, so its very hard on them. He’s not a bad dog. He’s just terrified.”

The next pooch, named Delilah, was easier and some actually walked by themselves into cages. There were several puppies. Not a growl or a bark was heard, as the dogs had been bred to be docile, Parascandola said.

“It’s fantastic. I am so excited to see the dogs here,” Parascandola said. “The conditions on the farm are horrendous. It’s been very stressful but totally worth it.”

It hasn’t been easy work. The dogs were kept in small, dank, filthy and crowded cages in South Korea, where they were to be slaughtered and eaten. It is the fate of about 2 million canines per year in the Asian country. The animals, including beagles, poodles, Korean Jindos and Tosas ranging from lap-dog size to well over 100 pounds, were exposed to the weather and had never seen the light of day or felt a tinge of human kindness.

“Some of these dogs were in a terrible state both physically and mentally. They’ve been starved of love their whole lives, living in fear and deprivation,” said Lola Webber, the Humane Society Asia campaign manager and the director of the Change for Animals Foundation in South Korea. “As soon as we opened their cage doors and they realized we weren’t going to harm them, they wagged their tails and licked our faces. I felt very privileged to give these dogs the first-ever cuddle and kiss of their lives.”

Patience needed

The rescue marks the first time dogs bred and raised for food will be put up for adoption in California. The 57 pooches, all younger than 2, will be made available for adoption at the San Francisco SPCA, the Marin Humane Society, East Bay SPCA and Sacramento SPCA, after medical checkups, treatment and evaluations for aggression, psychological or social issues, officials said.

Anyone who adopts one of the dogs will need to be patient and dedicated to the cause, said Jennifer Scarlett, the co-president of the San Francisco SPCA. None of the dogs has been socialized or lived outside a cage, let alone house-trained.

“Many of them are shy, but we are confident they can live comfortable and happily in the United States,” said Scarlett, who expects to have some ready for adoption immediately after the three- to five-day quarantine. “There are some dogs that are ready to go and won’t even blink an eye and others that are quite frightened.”

Consumption of dog meat is not uncommon in several Asian countries, including China. It can be traced back thousands of years in South Korea, where dog bones have been excavated in Neolithic settlements. A fourth-century wall painting in the Goguryeo tombs, in South Hwanghae province, depicts a slaughtered dog in a storehouse.

Practice dwindling

The popularity of dog meat today has diminished. Only a small percentage of the population still eats it regularly, and a vocal group of Koreans wants it banned.

The San Francisco dog rescue operation marks the second time dogs being raised for their meat in South Korea have been rescued and brought to America. In February, Humane Society International brought 23 dogs to New Jersey for adoption. The farmer in that case agreed to relinquish his dogs in exchange for help transitioning to blueberry farming.

The farmer in this latest rescue, Tae Hyung Lee, agreed to give up dog breeding after 20 years because of criticism from his family. He closed his farm and plans to grow produce. The Humane Society has agreed to help him financially with the transformation.

“I think a lot of people want to get out of the dog meat trade,” Lee was quoted as saying to Humane Society workers. “People don’t like dog meat like in the past.”

Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite