On Thursday, a group of 44 dogs completed their journey from China as they arrived at Kennedy Airport, where they were rescued and brought to the United States. These furry companions are considered good boys and girls.

On National Puppy Day, which aims to promote pet adoptions and raise awareness about the challenges puppies face, a group of Malamutes, Labradors, and Pomeranians completed a 19-hour flight with a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska.

Once they arrived at their destination, they were inspected and cleared by a veterinarian and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The dogs were given a chance to stretch their legs and enjoy some food, outdoor time, and specially designed music that has been scientifically proven to appeal to canine ears.

“I started playing all the music as everyone got settled in and there was a good amount of silence once it started.” said Kiera Mejia of The Ark, the Animal Reception Center at JFK.

Then, one by one, the dogs emerged to be greeted, in some cases by their new owners.

“We’ve been waiting a long time,” said Mark Goldstein, 59, who drove from Brambleton, Va., that morning to take home Blossom the miniature poodle.

“She was in a bus or a truck on the way to the slaughterhouse,” said Goldstein, who works in healthcare. “She is going to be the most loved and spoiled little dog.”

No Dogs Left Behind, an animal welfare organization that saves dogs from slaughterhouses, dog traffickers, and dog meat trucks in East Asia, facilitated the adoptions. The group’s founder, Jeffrey Beri, a native of New York, and his team of volunteers have traveled to various parts of the world to rescue dogs from precarious situations, including China.

According to Beri, the dogs are primarily bred for consumption purposes, but there are instances where they are taken from their rightful owners, with their leashes being cut in their own backyards.

“Today is a very emotional day,” he said. “These are covert missions that are taking place. We are getting closer every day to ending the dog meat trade. We have activists and volunteers from all over. We have an underground army.”

In addition to rescuing dogs from perilous situations, Beri’s group also has adorable puppies that rival those seen in the Westminster Dog Show.

One happy customer, Amy Carrico of Syracuse, who was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Rudy, a 2-year-old poodle, can attest to this. Carrico already has three other poodles that were rescued from China by Beri’s organization.

“They need it and we can, so we do,” Carrico said, explaining her motivation to help. “I work three days a week. My husband works from home. So he will get lots of attention.”

Thirteen of the rescued dogs continued their journey to various locations in the United States, including Los Angeles, Miami, Utah, and Texas, while those without permanent homes or foster families were taken to a sanctuary that No Dogs Left Behind recently established in Canton, New York.

These fortunate canines were specifically selected for rescue by Beri and his team at No Dogs Left Behind, with adopters already committed to welcoming them into their homes this summer. Additionally, the organization has extended its rescue efforts to Ukraine following its invasion.

“I really wanted to foster and I applied to like five places,” said Ann-Marie Roach, 31, of Jersey City, who was adopting a dog related to a pooch she had already gotten from the rescue group.

“For us it was really just the mission and the horrifying aspect of the meat trade, and that it’s still happening in this day and age.”