18 dogs tied in sacks rescued from India's illegal dog meat trade, tails wagging

For 18 dogs pulled from India's illegal dog meat trade, freedom started in horrifying conditions: they had been confined in jute sacks and were facing slaughter.

They were instead carried to safety, and many reportedly responded with wagging tails.

Here's what to know

According to The Animal Rescue Site, Humane World for Animals — formerly the Humane Society of the United States — received 18 dogs after three wholesalers in India surrendered them.

Several of the animals had been found tied in sacks. Afterward, each dog was examined by a veterinarian, treated, microchipped, and vaccinated before being taken to a safe place. As rescuers carried them away, the frightened dogs began wagging their tails. 

Humane World for Animals says that although the dog meat trade is banned in India, it still kills thousands of dogs there every year.

The organization summed up the stakes in stark terms: "Despite being illegal in India, thousands of dogs are killed each year for the dog meat trade. Humane World for Animals exposed this cruelty with shocking video footage from the northeastern state of Nagaland, where more than 30,000 street dogs and stolen pets are captured, slaughtered and sold in live markets annually."

More background

The trade can involve both stolen pets and dogs taken from the streets, The Animal Rescue Site reported, with animals sometimes kept in cages or sacks and given little or no food or water before they are killed.

Humane World for Animals says it has been working to both expose the trade and end it. The Animal Rescue Site wrote, "20 million dogs and 6 million cats are killed for human consumption across Asia every year. We need to be a voice for the voiceless animals and help end this atrocity."

What's being done?

Humane World for Animals' Animal Rescue Team is tackling the problem through both direct intervention and documentation of the trade. Rescues like this one remove animals from immediate danger, while investigations help draw public attention to illegal activity that might otherwise remain hidden.

The veterinary care provided to these dogs included microchipping, vaccination, and medical treatment. Those measures improve their chances of making a safe transition into permanent homes.

According to The Animal Rescue Site, many rescued dogs have found loving homes.

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