Two adorable dogs rescued from the horrific Korean dog meat trade, Nabi and Jack, arrived in the United States last Monday, meeting their new forever families in Los Angeles.

Stranded for weeks without a flight out of South Korea due to the COVID-19 crisis, the two pups finally landed safely at the Los Angeles International Airport, a transport facilitated by animal rights organizations In Defense of Animals and Jindo Love Rescue.

“It has only been a few days, but we already love Jack so much,” Jack’s new guardian, Cheryl Rivera, told Lady Freethinker. “He has filled out our family and added so much joy. It’s difficult to imagine that because of the dog meat trade Jack would have continued to live in dire conditions and might have become someone’s meal. No dog deserves that fate. Dogs are our faithful, loving friends – not food.”

“It is so incredibly special to know that not only have we adopted a new family member, but that we changed his entire world for the better,” Rivera added. “As much as we love him, we know that he loves us just as much, and that is amazing. We are forever grateful to Jindo Love Rescue and In Defense of Animals for rescuing Jack and giving him a chance for a better life. I hope that many more dogs get this chance, as well.”

In addition to Nabi and Jack, nine other dog meat survivors have been saved by In Defense of Animals and Jindo Love Rescue since the beginning of May. Unfortunately, the current coronavirus pandemic has stifled efforts to save even more precious pups.

“COVID-19 has seriously damaged our ability to save dogs from the dog meat trade,” said In Defense of Animals’ Communications Director Fleur Dawes. “But we’ve been touched by the number of people who responded to our call for help. It’s only thanks to generous people who care that we were able to get these dogs from hell to heaven despite the challenge posed by international animal rescue during a pandemic.”

Lady Freethinker applauds the rescuers and adoptive families for giving Nabi and Jack a much-deserved second chance at life.