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Rescue Dogs Find Forever Homes in NYC

Amidst the bustling streets of New York City’s Union Square, a heartwarming event unfolded, bringing joy to the lives of rescue dogs and their future families. Petco Love’s “Paws in the Park” adoption fair gathered 17 local NYC rescue groups, including our compassionate team at Korean K9 Rescue, to unite over 400 cats and dogs with loving homes in the heart of NYC. At Korean K9 Rescue, our mission has always been dedicated to dog adoption in NYC, and participating in this one-of-a-kind event was an incredible opportunity to connect with fellow animal lovers and successfully find homes for 12 deserving dogs forever. We sincerely thank Petco Love for their support and for helping us find wonderful adopters for our pups forever homes.

With the sun beaming down on Union Square, the atmosphere was filled with anticipation as Korean K9 Rescue set up their booth at “Paws in the Park.” Our team was on a mission to showcase the stories of resilience and hope that each rescue dog carried within them. Throughout the day, we engaged with enthusiastic visitors, answering their queries about dog adoption and the joys of giving a home to a rescue pet. Witnessing the magic unfold as families connected with our furry friends was inspiring. The wagging tails and radiant smiles were a testament to the power of local dog adoption and its transformational impact on humans and pets alike. The event brought immense happiness to 12 lucky Korean dogs finding their forever homes. It strengthened the bond among rescue organizations in NYC, united in their commitment to creating a better future for these deserving animals.

“Paws in the Park” was a resounding success, demonstrating the profound impact of local dog adoption in NYC. We are deeply thankful to Petco Love for orchestrating this meaningful event and allowing us at Korean K9 Rescue to participate in this life-changing experience. The adopters’ and fellow rescues’ love and compassion reaffirm our dedication to this noble cause. We will continue to be a voice for rescue dogs, advocating for their welfare and finding them the loving homes they deserve. Let us create a brighter and happier future, one adoption at a time.

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Rescue Mission in Namyangju!

Last night, @koreank9rescue.kr partnered with @we.a.c.t. to rescue and shut down an illegal puppy mill in Namyangju, Korea. When we first arrived to rescue the dogs, only a few dogs were visible, and the others had suddenly disappeared from their rusty filthy cages seemingly overnight. Our teams did some searching and found the rest of them at the owners next-door neighbors house and two litters in the bedroom where the owner had hid them. We were able to rescue all 31 dogs: 3 mommy’s, 14 puppies, and 14 adult dogs. We will split the dogs between our two rescues for vetting, rehabilitation, spay/neuter, of course, and adoption. Tomorrow, we will all go back to demolish the cages so the cycle can not be repeated!

We can’t do this without the help of our strong community of advocates like yourself! Please share our posts and stories so we can raise funds to treat these babies. One dog is in pain from a missing eye, and the females are overbred still in nursing. Your donations help us sustain our mission and help us fight the cruel puppy mill trade.

We hope this rescue mission inspires to join the dog rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, and California. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community!

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Updates on PpaePpae!

Do you remember PpaePpae (aka “Slim”) from our Christmas in Bundang livestream?

We rescued PpaePpae from the Ulsan City shelter, where she was obese (130 lbs) and heartworm positive. She dropped to a healthy 61 lbs, completed heartworm treatment, and became a companion to our staff and dogs. Due to her previous obesity, she needed prosthetic hip replacements to save her life.

This past March, PpaePpae completed her first hip replacement surgery at the best animal hospital for orthopedic surgery (@royal_amc) in Seoul. Given her age and osteoporosis, she needs to have a separate surgery for each hip. Her recovery has been slow and painful, but it was necessary so that she could live. In a few months, PpaePpae will have her final hip replacement surgery, and we’ll continue to support her throughout it.

Thank you to our wonderful community for helping us raise $15k to cover the surgery cost for PpaePpae. We couldn’t have done it without you. We rely on donations to sustain our mission.

We hope this positive update inspires to join the dog rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, and California. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community!

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We're featured in SBS TV's Animal Farm!

Last month, our rescue center in Bundang, Korea, had many exciting events happen. @sbsanimal Animal Farm Team featured the story of the KK9 Adoption Center, and famous actor @yoo_yeonseok volunteered his hand and got a first-hand glimpse into the everyday hard work and activities we do to make our rescue dogs’ lives better each day!

It’s with respect and gratitude to the SBS TV crew and Yoo Yeon-Seok for showing the plight of rescue dogs of all shapes and sizes within Korea. Together, we can spread the word that our precious dogs are just as deserving as any other pet dog and have the capability of making loving companions for life despite their trauma backrounds. Check out the funny moments on SBS YouTube, or if you have an SBS subscription, you can check out the full-length show.

Thank you to our hard-working manager @kk9r.kr_hy, our tireless young trainers @koreank9rescue.kr, the SBS crew who showed so much respect and patience to our operations, and finally to Yoo Yeon-Seok for his rescue dog advocacy, which includes adopting his own dog from the now defunct Aerinwon shelter.

We hope this inspires to join the dog rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, Massachusetts, and California. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community!

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We have a Petco Love Story Winner!

BIG NEWS! Our rescue was selected as a winner through @PetcoLove Stories, and we just received a $25k grant!!! There were over 20k story submissions and we’re honored that one of ours won!

A huge thank you to Laura Tuccillo and her KK9R Alumnus, Boggy! Their story touched everyone’s hearts and it was a beautiful tribute to Laura’s father, Joe Tuccillo. Laura’s story will be live on Petco Love’s website soon, but this video has an overview of it in the meantime.

Also, thank you to all the KK9R alumni who submitted their stories and always support us. We have an amazing community!

Petco Love is dedicated to saving the lives of animals and they provide live-saving grants to rescues across the country. Thank you to the Petco Love employees and supporters that make this possible!

If you are not part of our alumni network, then it is not too late! Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you adopt from us!

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Rescue Mission in Gwangju

We start the Lunar New Year with a very emotional rescue for our team @koreank9rescue.kr in Gwangju, Korea.

Reports to our partners @youumbba that a senior woman and her paralyzed husband kept 53 dogs inside her tiny home living in squalor and trash. Her intentions started well initially, but it turned for the worse when the locals began to abandon their dogs to her. Dogs abused by drunk men, dogs who were someone’s previous pet but no longer wanted, her collection grew out of control, and she barely earned enough money cooking and cleaning to feed them. However, she fought and struggled to keep them alive. As the numbers increased, so did the fight for survival among the dogs. Dogs began killing each other, and our team saw 20 dead dogs scattered throughout her property. We were speechless.

Through tears and delicate negotiations, she agreed to let us take all 53 of her dogs. We have split the dogs up between KK9R and Youumbba, and their body condition needs a lot of help and rehabilitation. But most are friendly.

As for the senior citizen woman and her husband, social services have stepped in, and we are following up to ensure the woman gets the help she needs to recover the best she can. It’s a very tragic and emotionally taxing situation, but it’s over now. With no government help in Korea to solve hoarding situations like this, our groups must step in and help innocent animals and humans with dignity and respect.

Please support these dogs by donating to our fundraiser. There are a lot of vetting costs and treatments, and all of these dogs are adult poodle mixes. It will cost thousands of dollars to heal them. Thank you for your gifts and generosity.

We hope this rescue mission inspires to join the dog rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community!

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Millie's Adopted!

Do you remember Millie (@millie_thebkgirl)? Last year, our partner, @youumbba, rescued Millie in Nonsan and medically treated her. She was an abused stray who suffered severe burns on her body caused by someone pouring boiling water on her. We took Millie into our care afterward and rehabilitated her until she was ready for adoption. She was recently adopted by her dream forever home, and we’re so happy for her! Here’s what Millie’s amazing adopter has to say about it:

“I first saw a post about Millie in September and made the decision to foster for KK9R. It was not long after the loss of my previous pup (Mickey) of 17 years. I wasn’t sure if I could open my heart to another dog, but fostering healed my heart. In December, I found out Millie made it to NYC, and I just knew that Millie is the “one.” Thanks to Vicky and Millie’s foster @yaztea, we made the adoption official.

We’ve had so much fun so far. She’s learning how to play – first fetch in the backyard and even practicing catch. She also loves going on long walks. She’s very smart, always sits patiently for her food, gives paws, and is keen to relax in her “place” with her toys. Soft toys are her favorite, and she carries them everywhere.

Most importantly, Millie’s ability to love people is special and inspiring — I know she has touched so many people in such a short time. For some, her history would cause fear. For Millie, her history ignited bravery. I’ve never met another soul that loves as deeply as her. I know, over the years, Millie will teach me how to love deeper by passing that love to me. I am so blessed to have Millie in my life, and I look forward to the life we will share together.”

After reading about Millie’s rescue story, we hope it has inspired you to join the rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adoption Procedures. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community!

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Aerinwon (Boeun) Shelter Care

K9R recently received a generous grant of $10,000 from an anonymous donor. We donated this to @beaglerescuenetwork (BRN) in Korea. This will enable them to install the severely needed electrical grid at Aerinwon quickly, now known as the Boeun Shelter, to provide heat for the 500 dogs suffering in the brutal cold. The shelter is now located in the Chungcheongnam-do province of Korea, where snow has been falling daily, and the temperatures have dropped to 12 degrees F with freezing winds. No living being should suffer in these conditions.

We’re grateful to the volunteers who bravely break the ice in the water bowls daily. They try desperately to keep up with the dog’s blankets that freeze within minutes and jackets daily. But they know it’s not enough. This lifesaving grant from KK9R will enable BRN to install the electrical system this Wednesday. They will then be able to set up heat lamps and hot plates so the dogs can survive the winter.

If you tuned in last Wednesday to our “Christmas in Bundang” Livestream, you met Leah from BRN; she explained the freezing conditions at Boeun. KK9R felt we had to do something about it immediately, and we are so thankful to generous donors who believe in our mission. Together with @kk9r.kr_hy and @koreank9rescue.kr we will continue to support the dogs at Boeun shelter to ensure the electricity and heat are always running. We will also keep pulling as many dogs as possible for rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption. We have helped over 300 Aerinwon dogs find homes in the NYC tri-state area, and we won’t stop.

Thank you to all our supporters who have enabled us to do this lifesaving work. We hope you will continue to support our efforts to help the most vulnerable dogs in need this holiday season. Please consider donating to our mission so we can continue to assist more dogs in need of help.

We hope this rescue mission inspires to join the dog rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community!

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"Christmas in Bundang" was a success again!


Thank you to all of our amazing supporters that tuned into our “Christmas in Bundang” livestream yesterday evening! We’re grateful that so many people took the time to show their appreciation for our hardworking team and partners in Korea. We hope that everyone learned how much thought, effort, and love goes into rescuing and rehabilitating each dog. Together, we are making a real difference for thousands of dogs!

You can continue to support our team and partners in Korea by following them here: @koreank9rescue.kr, @animal_kara, @beaglerescuenetwork, @youumbba, @oukjae96 and @yuhengsa_official .

We hope that “Christmas in Bundang” inspires to join the dog rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community! Thank you to our supporters and friends who attended our third annual Livestream, “Christmas In Bundang.” Despite some technical difficulties initially, you rode it out until we were back online with clear sound! We can’t thank you enough for recognizing our team’s hard work in South Korea. Our manager @kk9r.kr_hy spent the month of December preparing for the biggest event of the year for KK9R, and the meticulous detail of her hard work is sincerely appreciated. Each dog we featured had a compelling story, and our dogs and rescue partners shined so bright last night. We also highlighted our wonderful adopters in NY whose dogs are living their best lives and interviewed rescuers about their experience saving them. Our staff and pups got in the holiday spirit with fun Christmas outfits, and we had a live cooking demonstration sponsored by @justfoodfordogs that our dogs got to taste for the first time, and they cleaned their bowls quickly!

The feeling of camaraderie in the rescue community can be rare sometimes. But our dream to unite all the groups as one in Korea has served the dogs extraordinarily and keeps growing! We had six beautiful groups who attended our party, and we hope their spirits were lifted and filled with a renewed sense of hope.

Thank you to @youumbba @animal_kara @beaglerescuenetwork @yuhengsa_official @oukjae96love @NGO_Dasom and the many other partners we work with!

Thank you, staff and volunteers, in Korea, for caring for each dog at our center. When our dogs arrive in NYC, we see the happiness and light in their eyes right away, which helps them on their journey to find a loving, forever home. That is the greatest gift to us all. ????

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Our Director was on the Stop Yulin Podcast!

Our Director, Gina Boehler, was featured on the Stop Yulin podcast! The episode starts with background information about Gina and how she created Korean K9 Rescue. From there, we discuss our rescue’s NYC and Korea operations. This includes rescue missions, rehabilitation, transportation, and adoptions. Then we talk about the dog meat trade in Korea and CDC bans in the US/Canada for international dog transports. We end with details about our “Unchain Me, Korea” campaign.

You can listen to the podcast here!

We hope this podcast inspires to join the dog rescue movement! ⁠Our adoption radius currently includes select areas within New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Maryland, and Massachusetts. For full details on our adoption radius and procedures, please check our Adopt page. We’re looking forward to having you join our alumni, foster, or volunteer community!