Instead of treating farm closure exclusively as a confrontation, the program attempted to identify ways for owners to leave the trade permanently.
That approach recognized a practical reality.
Many people involved in the industry depended on their businesses for income.
If they were expected to close their farms without any alternative means of earning a living, some might resist change or return to the same work later.
Humane Society International therefore supported transitions toward other agricultural activities.
In Farmer Lee's case, the alternative involved medicinal herbs.
He already had experience with herb cultivation and planned to expand that part of his business after ending dog farming.
The arrangement meant the closure could address two concerns at once.
The dogs could be removed from an environment in which they were bred for meat.
And the farmer could pursue a different livelihood without continuing to raise animals for slaughter.
This was not simply a temporary relocation of dogs.
The aim was permanent closure.
According to the charity, its farm-conversion program used agreements designed to prevent participating farmers from returning to the dog-meat business.
The broader purpose was to demonstrate that change could be accomplished through cooperation and economic alternatives.
That strategy would become an important element of the organization's long-term campaign in South Korea.
October 2018: The Rescue Becomes Reality
In early October 2018, Humane Society International carried out the operation.
The charity worked with the farmer to close the facility and remove the dogs.
On October 9, it announced that more than 200 dogs and puppies were being rescued and prepared for transfer to shelters and partner organizations abroad.
For the animals, the operation represented the beginning of a completely different future.
Dogs that had been bred for the meat trade were now entering the care of organizations focused on protecting and rehoming them.
The rescue included animals of different sizes, ages, and temperaments.
That diversity added complexity to the operation.
A small puppy has different needs from a large adult dog.
An animal that has experienced prolonged confinement may react differently to unfamiliar surroundings from one that has had regular positive human contact.
Rescue workers must account for such differences when moving animals.
Transportation itself can be stressful, particularly for dogs that have never traveled outside their original environment.
The transition requires planning to reduce risks and keep the animals as comfortable as possible.
The dogs from this operation were sent toward rescue and shelter partners in four countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Their arrival at those organizations did not necessarily mean they were immediately ready for adoption.
Each animal needed appropriate assessment and care.
But the central purpose of the operation had been accomplished.
The farm was closed.
The dogs had been removed.
And the process of preparing them for safer, more comfortable lives had begun.
For the rescue team, this was another achievement in a campaign that had already taken years of effort.
For the dogs, it was the start of a life no longer defined by the purpose of the farm.
Nearly 90 Puppies Given a Different Future
Among the most memorable details of the rescue was the presence of approximately 90 puppies.
Many had been born just weeks earlier.
Their young age made their situation particularly moving to animal lovers following the story.
Puppies are naturally curious.
As they develop, they begin exploring their environment, playing with other dogs, and responding to new experiences.
These early stages of life are important for healthy physical and behavioral development.
A puppy raised in a stimulating and supportive environment has opportunities to learn about people, household sounds, social interactions, and everyday activities.
Puppies raised in severely restricted conditions may have fewer opportunities for those experiences.
For the young dogs removed from the farm, rescue offered a chance to receive appropriate care and begin experiencing environments beyond metal cages.
Veterinary assessment, suitable feeding, and safe socialization were important next steps.
Some puppies would eventually need help becoming comfortable with unfamiliar people.
Others might need time to adjust to ordinary sights and sounds.
There was no reason to assume that every puppy would respond in exactly the same way.
But rescuing them while they were still young created opportunities for positive development.
It also meant they would not have to remain in the same farming environment as they grew older.
The photographs released during the rescue drew attention to just how many young animals were involved.
For supporters of the campaign, the puppies became a powerful reminder that animal welfare concerns extend beyond the visible condition of adult dogs.
They also involve the lives and futures of animals that have barely begun to experience the world.
The Long Road From Rescue to Adoption
One of the most important things to understand about large-scale animal rescue is that freedom from confinement does not automatically mean an animal is ready for a family home.
The transition often involves several stages.
Dogs may first be moved to temporary facilities where trained caregivers can monitor their health and behavior.
Veterinarians examine them for injuries, infections, parasites, nutritional problems, or other conditions requiring treatment.
They may receive vaccinations, preventative medications, and additional care.
Some animals need help gaining or maintaining a healthy weight.
Others may be physically healthy but unfamiliar with ordinary household environments.
A dog that has spent most of its life in a cage may never have climbed stairs, walked across a slippery floor, or heard a vacuum cleaner.
Even a friendly and affectionate dog can initially find these experiences confusing.
The goal of rehabilitation is not to force animals to become comfortable immediately.
It is to provide a safe environment in which they can learn gradually.
Caregivers may introduce new sounds, objects, surfaces, and social experiences in manageable ways.
The process is adapted to each dog's needs.
Some animals demonstrate remarkable adaptability.
Others require patience and more structured support.
Both responses are understandable.
What matters is giving rescued animals a reasonable opportunity to recover and thrive.
For the dogs from the 2018 South Korean farm, partnerships with shelters in several countries created potential pathways to adoption.
Those partnerships were crucial.
A rescue involving more than 200 animals could place significant pressure on a single shelter.
Working with multiple organizations helped distribute the responsibility for care.
It also increased opportunities for individual dogs to find appropriate homes.
The Dogs Who Arrived in Maryland
Evidence of the rescue's international impact appeared almost immediately.
On October 18, 2018, CBS Baltimore reported that eight dogs rescued from the South Korean farm had arrived at the Humane Society of Washington County in Maryland.
The group included an adult terrier mix, an adult Lhasa Apso mix, and six five-month-old Jindo mix puppies.
The shelter prepared the dogs for adoption.
According to its announcement, the animals received veterinary care, including vaccinations, microchipping, parasite prevention, and spaying or neutering.
Several were made available for adoption shortly after arriving.
Others required additional procedures before being placed with families.
This local example illustrates how a large international rescue eventually becomes a collection of individual stories.
From a distance, the operation involved more than 200 dogs.
But at each shelter, caregivers encountered distinct animals with individual personalities, medical histories, and needs.
One dog might be energetic and playful.
Another might be quiet and cautious.
A puppy might be eager to explore.
An adult dog might need additional time to learn to trust unfamiliar people.
The important point is that these animals were no longer simply part of a commercial farming operation.
They were being treated as individuals.
And potential adopters could consider welcoming them into their homes.
The CBS report also demonstrated how international organizations and community shelters can work together.
The rescue might have begun thousands of miles away, but its success depended partly on local caregivers willing to take responsibility for the dogs after their arrival.
Without those partners, moving hundreds of animals toward permanent homes would have been far more difficult.