Christmas in Bundang: The Dogs Who Stay

Every December, we share a glimpse into life at our rescue center and sanctuary in Bundang, South Korea.

This year, we did something different.

Christmas in Bundang: The Dogs Who Stay is not about transition or adoption journeys. It is about the dogs for whom Bundang is not a stepping stone, but a lifelong home. Our seniors. Our disabled dogs. Those who need ongoing medical care, behavioral support, or simply the safety of consistency for the rest of their lives.

For these dogs, Bundang is where mornings begin the same way every day. Where routines are familiar. Where caregivers know every preference, every fear, every quiet joy. It is where dignity is protected, and where love is not conditional on outcome.
This is their world.

Our Bundang Center is led by Ms. Kim Hyun-You, President of the KK9R Bundang Center, alongside an extraordinary team of caregivers and trainers who work around the clock. They are there 24/7, providing stability and compassion to dogs who have known profound neglect, trauma, or loss.

We could not do this work without them.

Bundang exists for dogs who may never leave. Dogs who are too old, too fragile, too sick, or too afraid to start over somewhere new. While many dogs pass through our care on their way to families, some stay forever. And that is not a failure of the system. It is the reason Bundang exists.

Terry is a Boston Terrier rescued from one of the worst illegal puppy mills in Busan. Years without medical care caused her to lose her sight. She is believed to be eight or nine years old.

Despite everything, Terry is warm-hearted, affectionate, and trusting. She moves through the world with confidence guided not by vision, but by memory, scent, and love. She enjoys her meals, roams the center with her friends, gives endless kisses, and reminds us daily what resilience looks like.

Terry still has many years ahead of her. While Bundang will always be a safe home for her, we still hope her story reaches someone who can offer her a family of her own.

For eight years, Taeyang lived confined inside a small box on the side of a rural road.

When he was rescued in 2023, his body had weakened so severely that he could barely walk. He was already old, and he had endured more than anyone ever should.

Today, Taeyang is gentle, calm, and steady. He spends his days resting in warm corners, moving at his own pace, and offering a quiet presence to everyone around him. He holds no resentment toward people, only softness.

Taeyang is believed to be about ten years old and is the oldest dog at our Bundang center. He is not waiting for adoption. Bundang is his family, and it is where he will live out his remaining days in comfort and peace.

For nearly ten years, Orr lived tied outside the gates of the largest puppy mill in Korea, known as Mars. While 1,427 breeding dogs were trapped inside, Orr was left outdoors to guard the facility. Forgotten, even as the place itself became infamous.

Today, Orr is an elderly Jindo living safely at Bundang. He is calm, social, and deeply gentle. Indoors, he loves to rest and quietly ask for affection. Outdoors, he surprises everyone with bursts of joy and playful energy.

Despite his large, imposing presence, Orr is exceptionally kind, especially with people and small puppies. Under the care and training of Choi Joo Won, his life is now defined by peace instead of duty.
Bundang is home to dogs like Orr. Dogs who were used, neglected, or forgotten, and who deserve safety and respect for the rest of their lives.

Olivia was rescued in 2023 from an animal hoarding case in Gyeonggi Province. Around twenty animals were found living in severe neglect, suffering from skin disease caused by years of indiscriminate breeding. They were called “zombie dogs” when discovered. What they truly were were lives abandoned by humanity.

Olivia is seven years old. When she arrived at Bundang with her siblings, she was frightened, unsure, and lacked basic social skills. Healing took time. So did trust.

Today, Olivia is lively, expressive, and affectionate. She loves people, shows her emotions openly, and carries her soft, dandelion-like fur with confidence. While Olivia is now ready to meet a family of her own, some of her siblings are still healing and learning what safety feels like.

Bundang exists for dogs at every stage of this journey. For those preparing for a second life, and for those who need as much time as it takes.

Dave the Beagle was rescued from the same illegal puppy mill as Terry. Years of neglect left him with heart disease, a tumor, and an anal prolapse. Through surgery, treatment, and time, Dave recovered far beyond what anyone expected.

Today, Dave lives at Bundang, which serves as both a rehabilitation center and a nursing home. It is where he feels safe and unhurried.

Estimated to be about ten years old, Dave is a senior dog with the heart of a puppy. He loves rolling onto his back against cushions, wandering quietly, watching people, and enjoying simple comforts. While he has not yet found a family of his own, we still hold hope that a miracle may be waiting for him.

Shushu has lived at our Bundang center for as long as we can remember.

She has cerebral atrophy, a neurological condition that affects balance, coordination, and mobility. She cannot stand on her own, but she is far from confined. With her custom-built wheelchair, Shushu moves freely through the center, choosing where to go, what to observe, and where to rest.

Since her rescue three years ago, Shushu has remained happy and healthy thanks to the dedication of our staff and volunteers. Like many dogs at Bundang, she may never be adopted. The people here are her family, and Bundang is her home.

Sunny is a ten-year-old senior rescued from the Andong wildfire disaster site. When she was found, she was in critical condition. Parasites had severely damaged her eyes, and despite extensive care, she lost her vision entirely.
Sunny arrived blind, sick, and elderly. And still, she chose life.

Today, Sunny navigates the world with confidence. She follows scents, recognizes familiar voices, and comes running when called, especially if food is involved. Under the care of her dedicated trainer, Choi Joo Won, Sunny continues to adapt and enjoy life in her own way.

Sunny’s story also inspired Liberation 1M, our initiative focused on improving conditions for rural and yard dogs through spay and neuter, deworming, and long-term systemic change. Because of her, 160 dogs in rural Andong have already received critical veterinary care.

Our Bundang Center runs entirely on donations and monthly sponsorships.

The dogs who stay rely on us for lifelong care, medical treatment, rehabilitation, and daily dignity. If their stories moved you, please consider becoming a monthly sponsor or making a one-time donation to support their lives.

Standing with the dogs who stay means choosing compassion without conditions. It means honoring lives that the world once overlooked. And it means ensuring that Bundang remains a place of safety, peace, and love for as long as these dogs need it.

Thank you for standing with them.