Kobi

Kobi was among the original 83 dogs who were rescued from the Dangjin dog meat farm shutdown in 2018. After his rescue, he was transported to the care and safety of one of the partner shelters run by a Buddhist nun in the rural mountain region of Korea. Although out of harm’s way, Kobi lived in an outdoor kennel like the vast majority of Korean shelter dogs. Having a small playground area for him to roam and play with other dogs was considered a luxury. While he had numerous canine companions, human interaction was more unfamiliar due to the limited human resources afforded by the nun’s shelter and its remote location.

In 2020, Kobi was transferred to our partner boarding house where he was slowly triaged through different packs in order to help with his socialization. He was also moved to an indoor facility where we have seen a noticeable difference in his comfort and happiness.
The greatest change we have seen with Kobi is his confidence in people. Initially apprehensive and aversive towards the slightest extent of human interaction, he has made significant progress by observing his pack members and their positive human interactions. He now allows humans to pet him.

His emotional growth has been of great pride and happiness to us, although we acknowledge earlier socialization opportunities could have expedited his healing process. With every year that passes, he becomes a less desirable candidate to prospective adopters.

While we provided all the resources we could, the credit for Kobi’s progress is owed to him. However, not all dogs can reach this milestone on their own, and many will require professional intervention over an extended period of time. The reality of the situation is that many may never reach an adoptable state, which will require them to live out the rest of their lives in a sanctuary rather than a forever home. Although Kobi has made significant progress, it may not be enough to enable him to successfully transition to life as a companion canine.

Kobi’s Sponsorship Needs

Training School
Despite his slow progress, it has been steady, and we wish to support Kobi in reaching his full potential. A sponsorship would allow him to attend training school where he will be given professional guidance under the care of compassionate trainers to help him be the best version of himself. Until we are equipped to do so, Kobi will remain at our partner boarding house with his shelter mates where we will ensure they continue to be safe, healthy, and cared for regardless of where life’s path will take them.