VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - One of the dogs rescued from a dog meat farm in Wonju, South Korea now has a forever home.
A Virginia Beach couple, Susan and Mike Dillon, adopted Sundance on Friday.
"I feel very grateful that we connected with Sundance, I think he`s meant to be a part of our family," says Susan.
He was brought into the Virginia Beach SPCA back on January 11, one of eleven shelters part of the Humane Society of the United States Emergency Placement Partner program that picked up rescue dogs and puppies.
The farm Sundance was rescued from is the sixth dog meat farm closed in the country since January 2015.
Among the brutal conditions, SPCA officials say most abuse happens during the slaughter process. More often than not, when they do slaughter the dogs on the farms, it is in horrific ways, and also in front of the other animals.
When News 3 checked-in with the SPCA a few days later, officials said Sundance and another adult dog, Dixie, were responding really well to human interaction.
The Dillon's say at first, Sundance could not sit still. She immediately ran into their pool, was shocked by their TV, and didn't know how to go up the stairs or through their doggy door.
However, with the help of their two other rescue dogs, in just a few days, she's made a huge transformation.
"He's no longer grabbing everything, he just understands that this is home, that he's safe, and he has two sisters to play with," says Susan.
Dixie was put up for adoption as well, but SPCA officials say she is having a hard time since Sundance left.
The Dillon's say they plan to foster Dixie to get her re-acclimated, which may lead to them adopting her as well.
"To me it's the best therapy for myself and so rewarding to give a dog that's been through so much, so much pleasure and love and to see his life change," says Susan.
Two dogs rescued last week, along with a puppy rescued with Sundance and Dixie, should be up for adoption in the coming weeks.
A puppy, Cady, went up for adoption on Wednesday.
