Encho's Journey

To the adoptive pet parents, fosters, volunteers, and supporters of Koastal Dog Rescue and Yongin Pound Adoption Page - YPAP, I just wanted to take a moment to share my experience of how it has been to adopt and love Encho.

Encho had been in the shelter for a few years by then. He is an older dog, but with a puppy's playful heart. His happy smile in the photos endeared him to me right away.

I first reached out to YPAP via instagram in March of 2021 after seeing Encho's pictures, and they connected me with Sue at Koastal Dog Rescue.

COVID had slowed travel down immensely and we waited a long time for flight volunteers. Sue and YPAP worked very hard to find someone, and the volunteers at Yongin Pound Volunteers and YPAP were so wonderful to Encho. They took him out of the pound as soon as a foster was found, and the fosters were all so kind and sent photos and videos of him to me. They were integral in socializing Encho and getting him used to people again. His sweet nature was always there, but a hard life made him food-aggressive and a little fearful/anxious, especially around men.

YPAP and Koastal made sure that he visited the vet and was treated for any illnesses or infections he might have had. They even covered his dental work! Encho was going to travel quite far and so it was important that he be in the best of health, especially as an older dog.

He stayed at a few foster homes until we were able to secure a flight volunteer. His fosters loved him so much that I felt somewhat bad taking him away.

When it came time to travel, I was incredibly worried. His age was a major factor, and I was also concerned about how he would handle such a huge adjustment, moving from Korea to Canada.

When I went to pick him up at the airport, he was very anxious and fearful. There were too many confusing things that overwhelmed him, and he was confined in the kennel for so long! I'm grateful to the flight volunteers. I hope he wasn't too disruptive during the flight. He certainly made a ruckus outside the Customs office though.

It was December 28 when he arrived - my belated Christmas present. I covered his kennel with my coat and talked to him softly while carrying him out of the airport terminal to calm him down and get used to me. When I got to the car, my brother made sure to play K-pop so that things would at least sound familiar to him!

It's been just over half a year now since that day. I've added photos from back then and chronicled his new life in a progression of pictures.

I had to work to gain his trust. It wasn't always easy, as I had to learn his boundaries and comfort level to work with him, and of course we can't talk to each other! He has growled and snapped at people, even me, but that has diminished over time.

Now, he enjoys lounging on comfy couches, beds, and laps and playing with his cat brothers. Walks in the park are his absolute favourite thing. His tail wags happily whenever meeting new dogs, and while he will bark at new people, he stops once he "meets" (and sniffs) them.

He's got a loving, comfortable home, and is spoiled beyond belief with outfits, toys, and a pantry full of treats. He's been gaining weight and more strength in his legs, despite his somewhat bowlegged stride and hip dysplasia. Just today, he was hanging out at the neighbors' house while I was at work, sleeping on their laps and getting fed fresh chicken!

I just wanted to share Encho's story with all of you. I was thinking about what a remarkable change and journey that must have been from this little old dog's perspective. It's almost miraculous to think that this little pup could have been euthanized half a world away, if not for what YPAP and Koastal have done to give him a second chance at life.

On behalf of Encho and myself, thank you.