Happy ending adoptions

From dog meat farms to loving families, here are just a few of the amazing adoption stories of dogs Humane World for Animals Korea has rescued from South Korea’s dog meat industry. Almost 2,800 dogs have found homes in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, as well as a small number in South Korea. We are so grateful to our wonderful adopters who provide comfort, patience, safety and stability to dogs who have lived through trauma, fear and neglect.

Justine Fang

DeAngelo, a Tosa rescued by Humane World for Animals from dog meat farm 17 and adopted by Justine, now lives in Pennsylvania. 

“On January 15, 2021, our lives transformed for the better as we welcomed the incredible DeAngelo into our family. From the very beginning, he quickly embraced us, revealing a heartwarming journey of trust and connection. 

“DeAngelo, a remarkable blend of intelligence, friendliness and playfulness, has become an integral part of our daily joy. He has a special affection for people, particularly children, and other furry companions. It's impossible to fathom life without him now. 

“He's not just a pet; he's a cherished member of our family, bringing boundless love and laughter into our home every day.”

Jean Chung/For Humane World for Animals

Drax, a Tosa, was adopted by Molly after rescue from Farm 16. He now lives in the U.S. Virgin Islands on St. Croix.

“Drax came to us in in July 2020 as an adult male Tosa approximately 3-4 years old from a South Korean meat farm in Seoul. That’s all we knew about this massive dog. 

“Initially a foster, we adopted Drax within two weeks of having him. He will be our goofy massive gentle giant for the rest of his days. He loves his humans, empty paper towel rolls, butt scratches, naps in the shade, doing 'spinnies' and having 'zoomies' and falling asleep with his tongue out. He’s an incredibly handsome gentle giant. 

“We feel truly lucky to call him ours! He’s living his best life in the Caribbean and continues to bring joy to all around him."

Alyssa Pitkaranta

Millie, a Tosa rescued from Farm 9 by Alyssa, now lives in Wisconsin. 

“I was lucky enough to adopt Millie in August 2017. When I first brought her home, she was scared and cautious, but with time, she became so brave and so curious and goofy. She quickly became my parent’s favorite grand-dog and my best friend. 

“Millie’s favorite snacks are cheese and crackers. She loves nothing more than napping in the sunshine. Millie hates swimming but loves boat rides. She absolutely adores other dogs and visiting with her human cousins.

“Everybody who meets Millie says how sweet, gentle and beautiful she is. She is my entire world and I really don’t know what I would do without her.”

Kimberly Billman

Myong, a Jindo rescued from Farm 5, now lives in California with her adopter, Kim. See her on Instagram. 

“Myong shares our home with her little brother dog, Louie, and three cats. She was at our local shelter when we first met her, and although at that time she was not too interested in people, I could see a sweet soul with lots of potential! And Myong has been such a gift for our family in so many ways. I truly believe she has helped me as much as I have helped her. 

“When first adopted, she was too scared to come near us without lot of food bribes. She had never been inside a house before, certainly did not trust soft bedding, and was startled by any loud noise. But with time, love and patience she blossomed into my little angel and loves cuddles, treats, running around outside and relaxing in her cozy home. She particularly loves crunchy cheese puffs! She's very smart and has learned lots of words. Mostly, I love her courage and perseverance in learning to be a companion dog. 

“Adopting Myong was one of the best things I could have ever done. Working so hard to teach her to trust and love her family has made our bond even stronger and I feel privileged to have saved her from a dire situation.”

Sarah Edwards

Adopted by Sarah, Yuki and Millie now live in the UK. 

“We had already adopted Millie, a South Korean dog meat rescue saved by Humane World for Animals from Farm 13, when we decided to add Yuki to our family. 

"He was originally a foster and very fearful. But it fills us with pride every day watching him evolve from the terrified dog that he was to the affectionate and playful boy he is today. He loves to run as fast as he can round and round in victory laps! He loves having his back scratched and does a funny little dance when you do that. He’s been on some huge hikes and climbed many UK mountains, but his favorite place by far is the beach—that’s where he really comes alive and brings us so much joy.”

Paule Geoffroy

Kimchi, a Jindo from Cheongju, now lives with Paule and Victor in Canada. 

“When we saw Kimchi’s adorable face, we were instantly smitten! He is such a sweet, playful and cuddly boy. He’s smart, trusting and incredibly resilient. Despite everything he’s been through, he approaches life with so much love and curiosity. It’s amazing to see how quickly he’s opened up—he just wants to be close and feel safe. 

“We feel so lucky to have him in our lives. It’s incredibly touching to see him experience things for the very first time—like digging at the beach, ice cream, or the cozy comfort of the couch! Kimchi lets out the biggest sighs when he’s bored or unimpressed, like a little old man. He also makes these tiny grumbly noises when he’s settling in or when things aren’t quite to his liking. It’s absolutely adorable. 

“Seeing him run on the beach or nap peacefully on the couch is a powerful reminder of why rescue matters.”

Fiona Hanson

Nara, a Jindo from Farm 13, was adopted by Judy and Colin and now lives in Devon, UK. See a video of her. 

“It has been more than rewarding to welcome little Nara into our lives. We can’t believe how Nara has changed from a frightened and nervous little pup to a confident and mischievous little girl! She still finds some situations difficult, but we manage them and she trusts us to protect her. 

"We love her to bits!”