Over the weekend, 50 dogs rescued from a South Korean dog meat farm began a new life in the U.S., thanks to Humane World for Animals. Once confined to cramped, filthy cages with wire flooring, deprived of basic care, affection, or even the chance to run, these dogs have now stepped onto solid ground, felt soft bedding, and received gentle hands instead of fear.
Their journey took them from South Korea to JFK Airport in New York. From there, they traveled to the Humane World for Animals’ care and rehab center in Maryland, where they will receive veterinary care and emotional rehabilitation before finding adoptive families. An additional 17 dogs, mothers and puppies, will follow once they’re old enough to travel, bringing the total number of dogs rescued from the dog meat farm to 67.
The rescue operation was part of a broader effort to end South Korea’s dog meat industry, which is in its final chapter. With a government ban set to take full effect in 2027, nearly 40% of farms have already closed. Humane World for Animals has been instrumental in this progress, shutting down 18 farms and rescuing over 2,700 dogs since 2015.
One such farm, operated by Mr. Yu in Cheongju, was recently shut down for cruelty violations. For 40 years, Mr. Yu bred dogs for slaughter, serving their meat in his restaurant and selling them to markets. Now, he’s transitioning to chili farming, proof that alternative livelihoods are possible and necessary.
Joining the rescue was Korean American actor Daniel Henney, a longtime advocate against the dog meat trade. On-site in Cheongju, he helped remove terrified dogs from their cages and also adopted a golden retriever named Juliette, herself a survivor of the dog meat trade.
“As a huge dog lover, and dad to a dog meat farm survivor, it was incredibly challenging to see the suffering of these dogs who have endured so much. It makes me all the prouder to have supported Humane World for Animals’ successful campaign to achieve a ban because it means no more dogs like these will suffer like this again,” said Henney. “South Korea is embracing a new chapter where dogs are our friends not food, and that couldn’t make me more thrilled. I’m looking forward to following the journey of these dogs as they find their forever homes in the United States and put the dog meat industry behind them.”
The rescued dogs, mostly Jindo mixes, now face a future filled with love and stability. But for too many still trapped in this cruel system, time is running out. Humane World for Animals’ campaign not only offers a second chance for individual dogs, but also challenges the cultural stigma that still surrounds meat farm survivors in South Korea.
“While the law is successfully dismantling the dog meat industry, we are happy to be able to provide a bright future for the dogs on this farm. For them the dog meat industry is over, and they have nothing but soft beds, full bellies and lots of love ahead of them,” said Sangkyung Lee, campaign manager for Humane World for Animals Korea.
