Hoards of dogs destined to be slaughtered for their meat have been saved from a farm in South Korea.
Heartbreaking footage shows how up to 90 dogs were living in cramped, dirty cages with a number health problems.
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Scenes show retrievers, terriers, jindos and other breeds anxiously pace their filthy cages, and in some instances, dozens of puppies kept in single cages.
Rescuers at animal charity Humane Society International (HSI) were called to the dog meat farm in the country's Gyeonggi-do province where they found the scene.
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The practice of eating dog meat is still prolific in some parts of the world, however a recent survey found that 70 per cent of South Koreans say they will not eat dog meat in future and the Korea Times report "Fewer people in Seoul are eating dog as nearly 40 percent of the restaurants selling dog meat have closed over the last 10 years."
The farm's owner Kwon Tae-young, 40, signed up to Humane Society International's dog farms closure program at which point the charity moved in.
The scheme gives owners assistance starting businesses in growing crops and delivering water in return for not breeding animals for 20 years. The animals cages are also destroyed.
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The farmer said: "I've thought about closing my dog farm for a while now for various reasons, but never actually did anything about it.
"I have lost more money on this dog farm than I have made, and I feel like the dog meat industry in South Korea has already ended really because it's the worst of the worst times for dog farmers I think."
He added: "One day I talked to a former dog farmer who had worked with HSI and he recommended I work with the charity to help me leave the dog meat industry.
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"When I heard that HSI would help find forever homes for the dogs instead of them being euthanized, that's when I decided to do it.
"Rather than selling them off to traders, I thought it would be so much better if they can live their life and not die for meat or live the life of a fighting dog."
The charity, who released the footage, are now rehoming all of the dog - seven of which will be coming to the UK.
Earlier this year, the HSI completed another rescue, saving removed 200 chihuahuas, corgis, poodles, Pomeranians, Yorkshire terriers, French bulldogs, huskies and Shi Tzus from another farm in the the country's Hongseong in the west.
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A lot of the dogs were starving and emaciated, with matted fur and left without water, while some had untreated injuries and deformities on their paws as a result of the heinous cramped conditions they were living in.
The farm was said to have bred dogs for both meat and pets, therefore any puppies that didn't get sold as pets would be taken to the slaughter house and sold on for meat.
Lets hope this cruel practice can be stopped soon.
To donate to the cause of find other ways to help out, visit www.hsi.org here.
Featured Image Credit: Humane Society International