What does it take to rescue 31 dogs from terrible living conditions, build a shelter almost overnight, and give animals that have experienced years of neglect a chance at a better life?

In this episode of Rescue Tails, Dr. Robert Forto and co-host Robin Lucas take listeners behind the scenes of one of Rebel Rescue South Korea's largest rescue operations. Robin shares the story of the 2021 Gumi rescue, an operation that began when another animal rescue organization discovered dogs living in extremely poor conditions and reached out for help.

With limited space and a new shelter still under construction, Robin committed to taking 28 dogs. Working with volunteers and other rescuers, Rebel Rescue prepared its facility to receive them. The total grew to 31 after three more Corgis were rescued.

Many of the dogs arrived frightened, poorly socialized, and suffering from serious medical conditions, including heartworm and other infections. The work of providing veterinary treatment, daily care, and rehabilitation was only beginning.

Years later, most of the dogs have found homes, but six remain at Rebel Rescue. Robin introduces listeners to Sammy, Matilda, Jeremy, Bobby, Wolvie, and Butters, sharing their personalities, challenges, and hopes for adoption.

Robert and Robin also discuss the importance of rescue partnerships, the realities of caring for traumatized dogs, and why finding the right home sometimes takes years.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

1. How the Gumi rescue operation began in 2021.
2. The partnership between We Act and Rebel Rescue South Korea.
3. Preparing a new shelter to accommodate dozens of dogs.
4. The medical and behavioral challenges neglected rescue dogs face.
5. What happened to the original 31 dogs.
6. The six remaining dogs still searching for permanent homes.
7. Why patience and realistic expectations matter when adopting senior rescue dogs.
8. How something as simple as a dog's name can influence adoption interest.

Help these dogs find their forever homes.

Follow @rebelrescuesk on Instagram to learn more about the six remaining Gumi rescue dogs and how you can support their journey.

Subscribe to Rescue Tails for more stories of animal rescue, rehabilitation, and the people working to give animals a second chance.

What does it actually take to keep a dog rescue running day after day?

In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto puts co-host Robin Lucas in the hot seat for a behind-the-scenes look at life at Rebel Rescue South Korea. Robin wears many hats, handling everything from adoption and foster applications to finances, animal intake, volunteer coordination, website updates, veterinary needs, and communication with the English-speaking community. She does it while working a full-time night-shift job and navigating the demands of running a rescue in another country.

Robert and Robin also discuss one of the more unusual challenges of rescue work in South Korea: operating across languages and cultures. Korean volunteers, American military families, expats, adopters, and fosters may all interact with the same organization, making clear communication and consistent procedures even more important.

The conversation turns to volunteer management, leadership, delegation, safety procedures, and why simply expecting everyone to "figure it out" isn't enough. Robin explains the work underway to create more standardized routines so volunteers can spend less time wondering what to do and more time caring for the dogs.

Finally, meet Winnie, a young Pomeranian mix rescued from the breeding industry in South Korea. Despite a difficult beginning and problems with her back legs, Winnie is now in foster care and looking for a family willing to give her the commitment she deserves.

Bringing a rescue dog home is exciting, but the first seven days can also leave new adopters wondering if they made the right decision. A dog who seemed calm at the shelter may suddenly behave very differently once introduced to a new home, new people, new routines, and new expectations.

In this episode of Rescue Tales, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea break down what happens during a rescue dog's first week at home. They discuss decompression during the first 24 hours, establishing routines during days two through four, and building structure and consistency as the dog approaches the end of the first week.

They also tackle several common mistakes, including giving a new dog too much freedom, overwhelming them with people, changing the rules because you feel sorry for them, and spending every minute with the dog during the first week before suddenly returning to work. The goal isn't to discover exactly who your rescue dog is in seven days. It's to create a predictable environment where that dog can settle in safely.

Plus, meet Maverick, a longtime Rebel Rescue dog whose behavior in foster care has been dramatically different from what rescuers saw during his years in the shelter.

Can a rescue dog become a therapy dog? Yes, but that doesn't mean every rescue dog should.

In this episode of Rescue Tails, hosts Dr. Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea explore what it really takes for a rescue dog to succeed in therapy work. They discuss temperament, handling tolerance, recovery from startling situations, social behavior, training, and the responsibility of both rescues and adopters to put the individual dog's needs first.

Robert and Robin also discuss the danger of overselling a rescue dog's story or abilities simply because people want an inspirational ending. A dog does not need to become a therapy dog, ambassador, or working dog to make its rescue story worthwhile. For dogs that do show the right temperament, careful evaluation and training can help determine whether public therapy work is a good fit.

The episode closes with the story of Cinderella, an 11-month-old Jindo mix who returned to Rebel Rescue after her adoptive family abandoned her, along with a call for volunteers to consider helping rescues during harder-to-fill weekday and evening shifts.

This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B

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South Korea is approaching a major turning point as the country prepares to end the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for human consumption. But closing the farms does not automatically mean thousands of dogs are headed to new homes.

In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea discuss what happens when an industry shuts down, but the dogs remain. They explore the enormous challenges facing rescue organizations, including limited space, funding, rehabilitation, socialization, medical care, and the reality that some former farm dogs may require years of support before they are ready for adoption.

Robin also shares Sammy's story: an eight-year-old former farm dog who has spent five years at Rebel Rescue. His story shows that rescue is not simply about getting a dog off a farm. It is a long-term commitment involving thousands of meals, daily care, training, medical support, and the continued search for the right home.

It is a difficult conversation, but an important one about what rescue really looks like after the headlines disappear.

This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B

Support the Show

Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan

Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea

We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide!

Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

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©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

Why do rescue dogs come back after adoption? Often, it is not because the dog is “bad.” The problems begin when basic skills are missing, expectations are unclear, and adopters do not have enough support during those critical first weeks.

In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas discuss the three common problems that can lead to adoption returns and what rescues can do before a dog ever leaves the shelter. From loose leash walking and crate tolerance to handling skills and honest conversations about what is known, and not known, about a dog, better preparation can give both dogs and adopters a stronger chance at success.

Then Robin introduces Jeremy, a Jindo mix who has spent much of the last five years at Rebel Rescue South Korea. Despite his difficult past, Jeremy has developed excellent leash skills, is muzzle trained, has good manners, and has successfully lived in a foster home. His story raises an important question: What happens when a dog is ready for adoption, but people continue to see the dog he used to be?

This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B

Support the Show

Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan

Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea

We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide!

Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.

What happens after a rescue dog leaves the shelter and enters a foster home? Too often, that is exactly when support begins to disappear.

In this episode of Rescue Tails, Robert Forto and Robin Lucas of Rebel Rescue South Korea discuss what foster families actually need to succeed. They talk about why foster programs struggle, the importance of regular check-ins, clear expectations, behavioral and veterinary support, and why fosters should never have to wait until they are overwhelmed before asking for help.

Robin also shares the story of S’more, a rescue dog whose foster placement ended after problems developed with the resident cats. His story shows how earlier communication and proactive foster support might help prevent some dogs from returning to the shelter.

Whether you already foster dogs, run a rescue organization, or are thinking about opening your home to a foster dog for the first time, this episode offers practical ideas for building a better foster experience for both people and dogs.

This episode was recorded on the Shure SM7B

Support the Show

Like this episode? Share it with your dog training friends!

Love this episode? Say thanks in true dog training podcasting style by leaving a review.

FREE! Grab our 7-Day Real-World Dog Training Plan

Learn more about Rebel Rescue South Korea

We work with Dog Training Clients worldwide!

Take our Understanding Drive Behaviors quiz to see exactly what drive your dog is in and how to begin to train for it.

Join the On-Air Dog Training Coaching waitlist for a chance to be coached on the air by Dr. Robert or Michele Forto and get your dog training questions answered in real time.

Sign up now for 20% off our Group Coaching Program and learn how to build the best relationship possible for your dog.

Take your dog training to the next level by enrolling in our Peak Performance membership.

Follow Dog Works Radio for more dog training tips: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

©2009-2026 by Dog Works Training Company® All Rights Reserved.