Five dogs that were scheduled for slaughter on a South Korea dog-meat farm are now safe in a New Hampshire shelter, according to a press release from the SPCA.

“We are proud to work with Humane Society of the United States Emergency Placement Partners, New Hampshire SPCA, to help find these dogs permanent homes with loving and caring families in N.H.,” Kelly O’Meara, the director of companion animals and engagement for Humane Society International (HSI) said in a release.

The animals will be made available for adoption after undergoing evaluations and treatment.

A dog rescued from a South Korea dog-meat farm arrives at the New Hampshire SPCA. —Photo courtesy New Hampshire SPCA

The dogs are just a few of the 260 freed from a farm where they spent their lives in cages, according to a New York Times report. The farm’s owner released them after partnering with HSI, an animal rights group that has offered incentives to South Korea farmers, encouraging them to give their animals up for adoption in the U.S. and instead explore other livelihoods, like farming produce.


Since arriving in New Hampshire last week, the dogs have received medical and behavioral evaluations, the release said. Many of them had only weeks left to live before they became part of the global dog-meat trade, an industry that kills some 30 million dogs each year, the Times reported.

But changes in attitude have affected South Korea’s culinary traditions, according to the Times. As the nation has gained wealth, more people have taken in pets, and a younger generation is beginning to see the act of eating dog meat as an appalling instance of animal cruelty.

The dogs will be available for adoption at the New Hampshire SPCA. —Photo courtesy New Hampshire SPCA

The five dogs now safe in New Hampshire are settling into their new surroundings well, according to the SPCA. Workers are allowing them to acclimate to the shelter, and will begin socializing them before making them available for adoption.

“The New Hampshire SPCA is a proud Emergency Placement Partner shelter for the Humane Society of the United States,” Lisa Dennison, executive director of the New Hampshire SPCA, said in the release. “When HSI contacted us, we could not turn our backs on these animals. They are dogs in need and we wanted to be here to help them find the life as a beloved companion just as we would for any dog in need.”