The Wheel of Time’s Daniel Henney Shares How He Saved His Pup from the Dog Meat Trade (Exclusive)

The Wheel of Time‘s Daniel Henney is dedicated to giving dogs a fantasy life.

Through his volunteer work with Humane World for Animals (HWA), formerly HSI, Henney has rescued five dogs from the dog meat trade in South Korea and raised the canines as his beloved pets.

Currently, Henney and his wife Ru Kumagai are the proud pet parents to Juliette.

“We call her ‘Julie’ for short. We rescued Julie from a dog meat farm in a district about 100 miles from Seoul, Korea. She spent her first two years being bred for puppy mills. She was used over and over again to produce litters of puppies to sell throughout the country,” Henney tells PEOPLE. “Usually, after a couple of years, the dogs they use for breeding are slaughtered and end up being sold for meat. We are incredibly lucky that we got her out of there when we did.”

Unfortunately, Julie did not escape her traumatizing upbringing unscathed. The Criminal Minds actor says a life of neglect and isolation left the dog disconnected.

“She’d spend hours alone in a corner or a separate room. This was all she knew. She’d been shown absolutely no love or affection. She had no understanding of how to behave socially or exist within a family,” he adds.

Julie’s new family didn’t give up on the dog. Instead, they gradually worked to gain her trust, slow steps made possible by Henney’s late dog, Roscoe.

“Luckily, at the time, we had another retriever, Roscoe. He was absolutely amazing. We always say that he was like a little 5-year-old boy covered in fur. He was from a meat farm as well. We felt that because of his high intelligence, he was able to shepherd Julie and guide her into maturation. We lost Roscoe in August. He’s left a massive hole in our hearts,” Henney shares.

According to the actor, since Roscoe’s death, Julie has stepped up to fill the missing affection.

“She’s quiet, caring, affectionate, and finally starting to come out of her shell and ask for love. It’s been a really incredibly eye-opening journey with her,” he says.

It’s a rewarding process for Heneny, who felt motivated to help HWA stop the dog meat trade as a way to repay all the unforgettable dogs he’s met throughout his life.

“I was an only child raised in a very small town of 900 people in mid-Michigan. I felt isolated at times and dealt with my fair share of obstacles growing up there. My mom is Korean, and my father is white. We had some tough times as the only Asian people in my small town, and my dogs were my best friends,” he shares.

Henney continues, “My dogs were always there to listen and provide companionship during those times. I feel that I owe a part of what I have today to those incredible relationships I had with my furry friends back then. Being part of this cause, in a way, helps me to feel that I’m giving something back to them.”

The work also allows Henney to raise awareness about the realities of the dog meat trade and address common misconceptions.

“The most common misconception is that dog meat consumption is very common in South Korea. It is not,” he says, adding, “It’s a very antiquated tradition. Most people who consume dog meat are of advanced age and from the countryside. Most people never ask questions like ‘Why did this happen?’ This tradition directly results from times of famine and hunger in the country. South Korea’s past is full of hardship. During those times, they did what they had to do to feed their people. Unfortunately, the tradition continued and now must be dealt with.”

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Henney shares that South Korea recently passed legislation to ban dog meat sales and consumption. Over the next three years, dog meat farms will be phased out in the country.

“This could never have happened without the amazing work and dedication of the folks at Humane World for Animals,” he says.

The star and his pup, Julie, are now starting to watch Season 3 of The Wheel of Time, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on March 13.

Henney says fans can expect plenty of stunning settings this season.

“Being on The Wheel of Time has been incredible. We’re based in the Czech Republic. We’ve shot in insane locations,” Henney shares.

‘I’m excited for viewers to experience these worlds with us and the amazing sets created by our team. We’ve shifted into high gear this season, and I think it’s some of the best television out there.”

Because of the long flight to the Czech Republic, Julie stays home while Henney films the show, but she is always there to brighten his day once he returns.

“It’s hard to be stressed about trivial things when a 70-pound golden retriever wakes you up in the morning. They love you unconditionally. They can also be wonderful teachers of life,” he shares.

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