In a recent rescue mission, 79 Chinese dogs that were fated to be in the dog-meat industry have been rescued and welcomed to their forever homes.

No Dog Left Behind, a non-profit organization that aims to rescue dogs from China, rescued the hounds during one of its largest rescue mission. Founder Jeff Beri said, “There is nothing more gratifying than this.” Beri was one of those who flew back to John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York with these rescued dogs. In fact, it’s his first time in the U.S. in 11 months.

He said, “I’ve spent five years back-and-forth. It functions almost like a military activation. I am like an underground general. Some are family pets sold to the companies, some are stolen, some are bred for the market,” Beri said. “For every dog rescue, 10 dogs will be slaughtered.”

According to Chinese laws, permits or licenses are required for one to be allowed to keep a dog. Beri says he is working with thousands of activists who raids slaughterhouses and ask for their licenses. Unfortunately, many of them cannot provide any legal documentation. So they are forced to give them up.

These dog-meat traders are willing to give up the dogs on the spot if they know that they can get in trouble with the laws. They do not want to deal with fines and penalties for these dog meats.

No Dog Left Behind has already worked with a team of animal activists since 2017. They rescue dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dog meat trucks, wet markets, and traffickers all throughout China. According to No Dog Left Behind’s website, “We operate boots on the ground in China, fighting on the front lines to rescue dogs from the illegal dog-meat trade.”

And because of these dog-meat traders, Beri said that there are now many families who are afraid that the police would detain them for keeping their pets. While others are concerned over whether the virus could be transmitted through canines that led them to leave and abandon their dogs to become strays that are living on the streets.

According to the Animal Asia website, in China alone, 10 million dogs and 4 million cats are being slaughtered for the dog meat trade every year. These dogs and cats come in all shapes and sizes. Unfortunately, many of them still have their collars on while others were snatched from the streets and forced into tiny cages. Many of them suffer from broken limbs while they are being transported to different places without food or water.

And when they arrive at the dog meat markets, most of them are injured, dehydrated, and exhausted. Some won’t even make it alive. Then they will be forced to watch as other dogs and cats are killed to death. Thankfully, fate changed for these 79 Chinese dogs, thanks to No Dog Left Behind.

Beri posted videos showing vans and buses where the canines were awaiting for their trip overseas. The dogs were flown in crates from Beijing to the JFK airport over the holiday weekend. They were greeted by volunteers and adopters. Beri said, “It’s the ones that I can’t save that haunt me.”

This non-profit organization shows no signs of stopping. In fact, by next year, there will be an additional 150 dogs that will be part of the second rescue mission.