Gangjin dog farm rescue

The legislation was passed in January 2024 and will go into full effect in early February 2027. As is standard practice when large-scale industries are dismantled for good, the time between the law passing and the ban being complete is a phase-out period, during which dog farmers, slaughterers and restaurant owners have been able to apply for government support to transition out of or close their businesses.

The majority of dog meat-related businesses in the country have now closed, with the final few required to close over the next several months. We continue to urge the government to use what remains of the phase-out period to work with animal protection groups like Humane World for Animals Korea to rescue as many dogs as possible in a state-sponsored, coordinated effort.

This rescue of more than 70 dogs will be our final large-scale dog farm rescue in South Korea. That is partly because the majority of dog farms have already closed—over 85% as of September 2026—so we are now very much in the sunset phase of the industry. However, even after the ban is in place, Humane World for Animals will remain fully engaged in South Korea to help ensure the dog meat industry is permanently eradicated and the ban is enforced.

Our commitment is unwavering: we will continue to monitor the ban's enforcement, collaborate with local authorities and partners to protect animal welfare, and intervene wherever our support can make a meaningful difference in ending the suffering of dogs.

The farm came to our attention after a member of the public reported it to a local partner group who asked for our help. Together, we reported the farm to the authorities, who officially identified it as having violations of the Animal Protection Act relating to animal husbandry and management. The authorities obtained a signed statement from the farmer relinquishing ownership of the dogs and his written commitment to no longer participate in the dog meat industry. Humane World for Animals stepped in to rescue the dogs and fly them to the USA where they will complete their veterinary care and rehabilitation before being made available for adoption via the Humane World for Animals Shelter and Rescue partner program.

The farmer is in his 80s and took over the farm around three years ago after the original owner became ill. As the farm has already been shut down by the authorities, considering his age, he is likely to retire.

There is no evidence that these dogs were stolen. Some of the dogs were found wearing collars and may have been relinquished by previous owners. On many of our previous farm rescues and closures, we have found abandoned pet dogs on meat farms.

We believe that all suffering matters and we campaign around the world on behalf of all animals who suffer for the food industry, not just dogs but pigs, cows, sheep, chickens and many more. We expose the cruelty of all forms of factory farming, campaign for that cruelty to end and encourage a global transition to more compassionate plant-based food choices promoting meat-free and dairy-free eating to protect animal welfare, human health and the planet.

Although we can’t stop the suffering of all animals for the food industry in the short-term, we shouldn’t use the suffering of pigs or chickens in one country as an excuse for inaction to stop the suffering of dogs and cats in another country. We recognise that humans have developed a particularly special bond with dogs and cats and as a result there is widespread support—including across Asia—for an end to killing of dogs and cats for meat. By working with that momentum for change, we can make a difference now to the lives of millions of dogs and cats, while at the same time advocating for compassion towards all animals.

When it comes to animal suffering, geography really should not matter. What matters is that these dogs desperately need help, and we are lucky to be in a position to help them, especially since there is insufficient widespread acceptance of dog adoption in South Korea currently.

Many of our Shelter and Rescue Partners who care for our South Korean dogs in the U.S and Canada report increases in public adoption enquires about all of their dogs. So, our Korean ambassador dogs are helping their canine cousins in other countries find homes, too. They also act as ambassadors to raise public awareness about the dog and cat meat trade, and their happy ending stories help build support for more bans on this cruel trade across Asia.

Most Koreans don’t view eating dog meat as part of Korean culture. It’s a habit of a small minority of society but it doesn’t define a whole nation. It is important not to misrepresent this as a West versus East issue because that does an enormous disservice to the extremely passionate campaign by South Koreans themselves for an end to the dog meat industry. It is local public and political opposition toward the dog meat industry that has created the opportunity for this legislation to ban it. Change has come from within South Korea and Humane World for Animals’ Korean team has been proud to have played a key part in that change.

The dogs from this farm rescue will be flown to the United States, where they will spend time at our care and rehabilitation center before being placed with U.S.- and Canada-based members of our Shelter and Rescue Partners Program, who will start their search for adoptive families. Humane World for Animals does not facilitate any adoptions, and our shelter and rescue partners each have their own adoption policies and criteria. At this point, we do not know at which shelter and rescue partners the dogs will be placed. As placement arrangements are confirmed, we will update this page with that information. Note: these dogs are for adoption within the United States and Canada only.

Please note that the dogs on this farm endured lives of almost total deprivation, confined in barren, metal cages, without adequate food or care. Many of them have required treatment for malnutrition and skin infections. Once they are in the U.S., they will need time to recover from their ordeal and have any health or behavioral issues addressed. Therefore, we cannot predict the length of time it may take before they are ready to be placed at shelter partner facilities.