Over 100 dogs rescued from dog meat farms find new homes in US, Canada

Nara Kim, a campaign manager at Humane Society International, holds Russell at the cargo area of Incheon International Airport, Jan. 18. Russell was one of the 110 dogs that traveled to the United States and Canada between Jan. 14 and 18, in search of an adoptive family, after being rescued from local dog meat farms in 2021. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

By Lee Hyo-jin

INCHEON ― Russell the dog was once destined to be food, as he was locked up in a dirty wire cage on a dog meat farm in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. But his fate changed after being rescued last October, and he was put on a flight bound for Toronto in search of a new family three months later.

Russell is among the 110 canines that were rescued from dog meat farms across the country last year by the Korean office of the Humane Society International (HSI), a U.S.-based animal rights group.

The rescued dogs flew to the United States and Canada for overseas adoption between Jan. 14 and 18.

Boarding the last flight scheduled for Jan. 18 were 18 dogs rescued together from a dog meat farm in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province. They arrived in the quarantine area at Incheon International Airport in a truck.

Whining and trembling, with their ears flattened and tails tucked between their hind legs, the dogs went through quarantine, after which they were transferred to the cargo area.

Dogs rescued from a local dog meat farm go through quarantine at Incheon International Airport, Jan. 18, ahead of their flight bound for Toronto, Canada. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Nara Kim, a campaign manager at the HSI, scribbled with a marker on the crates, "sweet," "lovely," "shy," "gentle," "scared" and "I might need a bit of time," describing each dog's personality, for her colleagues who would be greeting them in Toronto.

She then cleaned their crates one by one and packed them with food and water in preparation for the hours-long journey.

"The dogs departing today are all so sweet and none of them are aggressive. And thankfully, they are all in stable condition for the flight. After landing in Toronto, they will travel by bus to an HSI-affiliated shelter in Montreal," said Kim.

After bidding farewell to the local activists, the dogs began a long voyage for a new life, leaving Korea's dog meat industry behind them.

A local animal rights activist holds a dog at the cargo area of Incheon International Airport, while HSI employees and volunteers prepare the dogs for their flight to Toronto, Jan. 18. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

But they won't be available for adoption as soon as they arrive in Canada, said Kim, since the dogs will need some time to adapt to the new environment.

"They will be ready for adoption after receiving necessary veterinary care, rehabilitation and behavioral evaluation at the shelter. Depending on each dog's personality and health condition, the process might take several weeks to months," she explained. "But I'm sure that eventually, all of them will be able to find a permanent family."

Kim, who has been to over 20 dog meat farms in Korea, says the dogs come in all sizes and breeds.

"Unfortunately, big ones have near-zero chances of finding a new owner in Korea, as people here prefer smaller breeds. And sending them to overcrowded local shelters is not an option. So for them, we have been arranging overseas adoptions in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom."

Since 2015, the organization has sent about 2,500 dogs abroad, among which, 95 percent have found new families, she said.

Offering new careers for dog meat farm owners

As the dog meat industry is declining steadily in Korea, local dog meat farmers are increasingly seeking to leave the industry for a more profitable and sustainable future.

By supporting these farmers since 2015 through the "Models for change" campaign, the HSI Korea office has been able to shut down 17 dog meat farms, as well as Gupo Livestock Market in Busan, the city's largest dog meat market.

Through individual contracts with farm owners, in return for closing down the facilities and giving up the dogs for adoption, the NGO offers financial support to farm owners to help them transition into a new profession.

HSI employees and volunteers carry dogs out of a farm in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 25, 2019. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Kim said, "The farm owners themselves know very well that the dog meat industry is fading. They're pretty desperate for an exit strategy, but they just don't know how to start a new career at their ages."

About 17 farm owners who have participated in the campaign so far have left for other sectors such as delivery, truck driving, construction and vegetable farming. Kim added that the contract specifically bars them from reentering the animal industry.

The HSI views that such a campaign model, if it were expanded to the government-led level, could be a feasible solution to addressing the controversial issue of ending the practice of consuming dog meat in Korea.

Despite the continuous rescue efforts of animal rights organizations, an estimated 1 million to 2 million dogs are still kept on over 3,000 farms across the country, spending their entire life locked up in small, dirty cages without proper food or care, watching helplessly as other dogs die.

"As a nonprofit organization, we cannot offer sufficient financial support to every individual who chooses to give up their dog meat farm. So we plan to actively propose our program to be reflected in the government's plan for phasing out the dog meat industry, which must include providing necessary support to farm owners," said Kim.

Korea 'slowly' begins to discuss ban on dog meat consumption

Following a decades-long debate over a ban on dog meat consumption, discussions have gained momentum, after the launch of a joint taskforce set up by the government last month.

The taskforce, consisting of officials from related ministries ― the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety ― plans to collect data on current practices of dog meat consumption, involving research on dog meat farms, slaughterhouses, markets and restaurants.

A dog is in a cage while HSI prepares the dogs for a flight at Incheon International Airport, Jan. 18. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

"It is highly encouraging that the administration has launched a pan-government taskforce. We view this as a big step forward," Kim said. But at the same time, she pointed out that the authorities should come up with a detailed roadmap.

Kang Dong-yoon, an official at the agriculture ministry who heads the taskforce, said it aims to make meaningful progress within the first half of the year.

"We are currently conducting site inspections in cooperation with local governments. Officials are visiting dog meat farms, markets and eateries. We will also conduct a nationwide survey soon, in order to gather opinions from the public," he told The Korea Times.

He also added that a government-led committee consisting of experts and representatives from both the dog meat industry and animal rights groups are holding meetings on a regular basis.

HSI employees carry a dog in a crate at Incheon International Airport, Jan. 18. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk