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They're starting a new chapter in their lives: sixteen dogs rescued from a food farm in South Korea have been flown to Canada, where they will be cared for, rehabilitated and, above all, adopted.
The dogs come from a farm in Cheongju, closed down by local authorities for illegal slaughter violations. Rescued last year, they were then too young to face an international flight. Today, they are able to leave the country and join the Humane World for Animals care and rehabilitation center in Canada.
A key moment for South Korea
In February 2027, a nationwide ban on the trade and consumption of dog meat will come into force, marking a truly historic turning point. A new survey commissioned by Humane World for Animals confirms this change: 90% of South Koreans say they have no intention of eating dog meat in the future, whatever their past habits.
Among those who have eaten dog meat, 74% say they have not done so in the past year, while 40% admit to having done so in the past more out of social pressure than personal choice. These figures bear witness to a practice that is increasingly removed from everyday life in the country.
Farm closures and limited rescues
According to the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, by December 2025, 78% of farms involved in dog meat production had already closed. However, the new law does not provide for an official rescue program, making operations such as the rescue of these sixteen dogs an exception. And it's precisely for this reason that almost half of those questioned in the survey would like to see the government play a more active role in rescuing and protecting animals from endangered farms.
Care, adoption and the future
In Canada, the dogs will receive veterinary care, behavioral support and specialized treatment before being placed in partner shelters for adoption. Some of the animals rescued from the same farm and transferred abroad in 2025 have already found families in the USA and Canada.
Since 2015, Humane World for Animals has rescued nearly 2,800 dogs from South Korean farms. A figure that shows change is already underway, even if the road to total animal protection is still under construction.
(©GreenMe.it 2026/Managing editor: Selma Keshkire - The Press Junction/Picture: Unsplash)