More Than 70 Dogs Rescued From South Korean Farm and Sent Toward New Lives

More than 70 dogs have been rescued from a dog meat farm in Gangjin, South Korea, in what an international animal welfare organization described as its final large-scale rescue operation in the country.

The dogs were removed from the farm on September 29 after authorities confirmed violations of animal protection regulations. The farm had once housed and bred as many as 1,000 dogs each year.

A New Beginning for the Dogs

The rescued animals include Jindo dogs, a German Shepherd, a Corgi mix, a Husky mix, several Spitz mixes and puppies.

After the rescue, the dogs were transported to secure facilities at Incheon Airport. On September 30, the first group left South Korea for rehabilitation centers in the United States and Canada.

The animals will receive veterinary care and rehabilitation before being transferred to partner organizations and eventually considered for adoption.

How the Rescue Happened

The farm was reported to animal protection groups by a member of the public. Humane World for Animals Korea and a local animal protection organization subsequently reported the facility to authorities.

Officials found violations relating to animal husbandry and management. The farmer, who is in his 80s, agreed to give up ownership of the remaining dogs and signed a commitment to leave the dog meat industry.

The End of a Decade-Long Rescue Effort

Humane World for Animals said the Gangjin operation marks the end of its large-scale dog farm rescues in South Korea. Since 2015, the organization says it has rescued nearly 3,000 dogs from farms across the country.

South Korea’s ban on breeding, slaughtering and selling dogs for human consumption is scheduled to take full effect in February 2027. Government figures cited by animal welfare groups indicate that most registered dog meat farms have already closed.

For the dogs rescued from Gangjin, however, the immediate priority is much simpler: recovery, rehabilitation and the chance to begin life in a new home.

Sources

• Humane World for Animals — “Seventy lucky dogs escape dog meat fate in South Korea ahead of country’s historic 2027 ban” — September 30, 2026.
• Korea Times — “70 dogs rescued from dog meat farm ahead of ban” — September 30, 2026.
• People — “Rescuers Save 70 Dogs from Slaughter at Shuttering Dog Meat Farm” — October 1, 2026.
• Myanmar International TV — “Dogs rescued in final mission as S. Korea counts down to dog meat ban” — September 30, 2026.