By Krug Stillo

A small Long Island-based rescue group is saving hundreds of dogs from being killed in the international dog meat trade and bringing them to the United States for adoption, as the NY Post reported.

The nonprofit, Run 2 The Rescue, was co-founded in 2024 by Sag Harbor resident Bonnie Klapper and fellow rescuer Brandy Cherven. According to the NY Post, the group has already saved roughly 600 dogs by working with partners on the ground in China to intercept animals before they are sold in markets, festivals, or slaughterhouses.

“These were going to be somebody’s meal,” Klapper said while holding a rescued toy poodle, according to the NY Post. Many of the dogs come from breeding mills, labs, or are stolen pets that would otherwise be sold “by the pound” for meat.

The rescue effort involves direct intervention. As the NY Post reported, teams in China stop transport trucks, visit butchers, and shut down illegal operations—sometimes negotiating the release of dogs or threatening to report unlicensed facilities. The animals are then moved to a sanctuary for care before being flown to the U.S. for adoption.

The scale of the problem is massive. Roughly 30 million dogs are killed for human consumption globally each year, including about 10 million in China alone, according to figures cited by the NY Post.

Despite the challenges, the group has successfully placed nearly 300 dogs into homes. The rescued animals include a wide range of breeds, from Pomeranians and beagles to schnauzers and toy poodles.

Some of the cases are especially severe. One schnauzer named Twitch suffered a fractured skull from blunt force trauma before being rescued from a slaughterhouse pipeline, while another dog, a malamute named Kronk, was so badly beaten he could no longer use his back legs. As the NY Post reported, Kronk has since recovered and now lives in Ohio with Cherven.

Other rescues include 77 beagles that had been used for laboratory testing before being intercepted en route to a butcher. The group also takes in dogs that are critically ill or near death, choosing to provide care and humane treatment even when survival is unlikely.

“We never say no to any dog,” Cherven said, according to the NY Post, noting that rescuers often face emotionally difficult situations caring for animals that have suffered extreme abuse.

Once in the U.S., the dogs are placed with foster families or adopted outright. In one case cited by the NY Post, multiple special-needs poodles rescued from the trade were adopted by a family in upstate New York, while others are fostered by Long Island residents helping them recover and adjust.

Klapper said the most rewarding part of the work is seeing dogs recover and thrive after being pulled from horrific conditions.

“Seeing dogs that we saw in horrific circumstances… healing and placed in wonderful homes,” she said, as the NY Post reported.