Rescuers said most of the animals had spent their lives in the cages, after being born and bred for the market (Picture: The HSI)

More than 80 dogs were saved from slaughter this week after being rescued from a canine meat market in South Korea.

Charity workers freed the animals after discovering them in cramped cages ready to be ‘ordered for slaughter’ in Busan.

The animals, mostly Korean Jindo crossbreeds, had to be physically pulled out by rescuers as they were so afraid.

All 85 rescued have been placed in temporary shelters after the Gupo dog meat market was forced to shut down.


Rescuers said most of the animals had spent their lives in the cages, after being born and bred for the market.

Charity workers freed the animals after discovering them in cramped cages ready to be ‘ordered for slaughter’ in Busan (Picture: Jean Chung)

The animals, mostly Korean Jindo crossbreeds, had to be physically pulled out by rescuers as they were so afraid (Picture: Jean Chung)

All 85 rescued have been placed in temporary shelters after the Gupo dog meat market was forced to shut down (Picture: Jean Chung)

The market will be developed into a community park as part of a regeneration plan (Picture: Jean Chung)

Rescue workers smile after finding 85 dogs alive (Picture: Jean Chung)

A vet checks over a rescued animal before it is taken to a foster home (Picture: Jean Chung)

She explained that after being selected, the dogs are usually electrocuted to death – with some taking up to 20 minutes to fully die (Picture: Jean Chung)

Speaking to MailOnline, Nara Kim, dog meat campaigner for Humane Society International (HSI), said: ‘For decades they have stood as a very public symbol of the immense cruelty of the dog meat trade, with live dogs displayed in cages on the street for shoppers to select for slaughter by electrocution.



‘The closure of Gupo’s dog meat market means the end of a gruesome era in South Korea’s dog meat history, and a sign of the times that law enforcement and local authorities are cracking down on this increasingly unpopular industry that most Koreans want nothing to do with.

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‘I know we have a long way to go to end the dog meat trade here, but even two years ago I would never have believed we would see such progress.’

She explained that after being selected, the dogs are usually electrocuted to death – with some taking up to 20 minutes to fully die.

Others are hanged in view of other dogs.