Dozens of dogs destined for dinner tables in South Korea are rescued by animal charity and sent to be re-homed in the US

Dozens of dogs originally destined for dinner tables in South Korea are being imported to the U.S to be put up for adoption.

The first of 23 dogs who were rescued from a dog-breeding farm in the East Asian country have landed in Washington, where they will be given new homes as family pets. 

The rescue, believed to be the first of its kind, was carried out in a bid to combat the eating of dog meat in East Asia.

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Dozens of dogs originally destined for dinner tables in South Korea, including these young pups, are being imported to the U.S to be put up for adoption as pets

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The first of 23 dogs who were rescued from a dog-breeding farm in the East Asian country - including this mother and her puppies - have landed in Washington

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The rescue, believed to be the first of its kind, is part of a campaign to combat the eating of dog meat in South Korea and other Asian countries. The farmer, Mr Moon Suk Jung (left) had wanted to leave the industry

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The dogs were found at a farm in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul, by the Humane Society International (HSI)

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The Humane Society International (HSI) - the international affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States - found the dogs at a farm in Ilsan, northwest of Seoul. 

The animal protection organisation said the dogs - who had spent their entire lives in cages - lived in 'miserable conditions' at the farm, where they were bred specifically for human consumption.

The farmer, Moon Suk Jung, accepted compensation and agreed to give up the animals. He has now shut down the facility permanently and will grow blueberries instead.