While the practice wasn’t *super* popular in the country (over 80 percent of Koreans have never consumed it), it still existed, with vendors across the country selling dogs to be cooked and eaten.

Now, the practice is banned, and vendors have been given until 2027 to completely shut down their operations. There’s just one problem: They don’t know what to do with all the dogs.

According to the South Korean government, there are over 500,000 dogs that will need homes as a result of this ban.

I know what you’re thinking: “Just give them homes!” Well, there are a few problems with this idea. First, the dogs that were bred for dog meat are massive, which poses a problem in a country where people are limited by space. Second, many people are afraid of owning a dog that’s spent its life on a dog meat farm, fearing that it will be riddled with disease. And finally, a lot of these dogs are of the “tosa-inu” breed, which the South Korean government classifies as “dangerous,” meaning you need a special license to own it.

So, on your next trip to South Korea, do the country a favor and bring a dog home with you.