Sooni entered the Gokseong Shelter in South Korea together with her puppy. Her puppy was adopted, but Sooni was left behind and faced euthanasia. When a litter of young Jindo puppies arrived at the shelter, she nursed them as their surrogate mother. Those puppies found homes too, and Sooni was left behind again, until she reached the top of the euthanasia list. At the last moment, an individual rescuer saved her.
After caring for her own puppy and others, Sooni deserves to be cared for herself. She is waiting for a family who will love both her sweet side and her less polished side, take the time to get to know her, and give her a home where she never has to say goodbye again.
Sooni is an affectionate, people-loving companion. She loves being touched and petted, likes to stay close to her person, and rests beside them during the day. At night she sleeps on the bed, usually curled up at her person’s feet.
She has a goofy, playful side, too: she rubs herself along the floor and does a wiggly “worm dance” on her back, and she loves sunbathing and exploring the yard.
Specific triggers: Sooni occasionally barks at older adults, especially older men, and at people whose faces are covered by a hat or mask, and she may suddenly move toward them. These reactions don’t happen every time, no actual attack has ever been observed, and her foster has always been able to redirect her. If she reacts, keep a comfortable distance rather than encouraging contact, stay calm, and reward her with a treat once she relaxes.
Sooni’s foster recommends an only-dog home. She currently lives with two dogs, a 17-year-old Beagle and a 4-year-old Tosa, but that doesn’t mean she is comfortable with every canine companion.
Around larger or more assertive dogs she is tense and very careful: with a 44-lb dog and a 66-lb Jindo, she watched their reactions closely and approached slowly, sniffing but not really engaging. With smaller or quieter dogs she tends to take charge. She may go to sniff them first, but if they try to sniff her back or things don’t go her way, she gives a low growl as a warning. A small or quiet dog is not automatically a good match.
When she meets other dogs, let her choose her distance, watch for that low growl, which is her early warning sign, and step in before tension builds. She is protective of food, especially meat treats, so meals and treats must always be given separately from other dogs. A home with a resident dog would need a careful compatibility assessment and caregivers who can manage interactions and keep feeding areas separate.
Sooni lived with cats for about three years without power struggles or significant conflict, and no clear aggression toward house cats or street cats has been observed. Introduce a new cat gradually, watching both animals’ reactions.
| House trained | Yes — she goes outdoors as a rule, and when going outside isn’t possible she uses an indoor potty pad reliably. |
| Alone time | Her foster is out about two hours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and up to four hours on some weekends; otherwise someone is usually home. These observations come from a home with other dogs. She may whine softly for 5 to 10 minutes after her person leaves, then settles quietly. No prolonged barking or howling has been reported, and she barks happily when she hears her person coming home. |
| Barking | Quiet indoors overall. She may bark briefly at car or motorcycle sounds or when someone arrives. In the yard she may bark at people or cats passing by, usually stopping within a minute, though it can run 1 to 2 minutes when neighborhood dogs join in. |
| Destructive behavior | None reported. |
| Car rides | She jumps into the car on her own, even a tall SUV, and generally stays in her spot. She may tremble on the way to a destination but is usually relaxed on the way home, and she loves looking out the window. Use a car harness or a secured crate, and make sure she is restrained before opening the doors so she can’t jump out unexpectedly. |
| Crate training | Still getting used to it. She eats her meals and treats in her crate and has stayed inside for over an hour, but she doesn’t yet choose it for relaxed rest. Training is ongoing. |
| Grooming & handling | Cooperative. Her groomer praises her bath manners, and the vet clinic finds routine care easy. Her response to toothbrushing hasn’t been assessed yet. |
| Favorite activities | Sniffing, nosework and treat-searching games, exploring the yard, sunbathing, and time with her people. She shows little interest in toys and would rather interact with a person. |
| A typical day | Up at 7 a.m., breakfast around 7:30, a morning walk, then yard time and indoor rest; treats, yard play, and sunbathing in the early afternoon; an afternoon walk around 5 p.m.; dinner around 7:30; a last potty trip in the yard at 9; and bedtime by 10. |
Sooni gets two walks a day of about 20 to 30 minutes each, plus yard time and potty breaks. She enjoys her walks and usually stays beside her person without pulling hard.
Her occasional reactions to older adults, people in hats or masks, and quiet dogs can also happen on walks, though not every time, and her foster has always been able to manage them on leash. Keep space from unfamiliar people and dogs and stay attentive.
She responds to her name right away indoors. Once, when a gate was accidentally left open and she got out, her foster calmly followed her and called her name, and she came back on her own. Outdoor recall is not reliably established, so keep gates secure and use a leash outside enclosed areas.
Sooni’s October 13, 2026 checkup found no abnormalities. She is in good overall health, with no past illnesses, no current medical needs, and no known or suspected allergies.
Parasite prevention: NexGard Spectra on the 15th of each month, year-round, including winter.
Her appetite varies. She gets about 40 g (1.4 oz) of a weight-control kibble a day, split into two meals, and often eats only one of them. Her foster keeps to a schedule, removes uneaten food after a while, and avoids adding treats or toppings, because she may then refuse plain kibble; her foster thinks free feeding may work once she is the only dog. She loves all kinds of meat treats. Please discuss her feeding routine with the rescue during her transition.
She weighs about 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg), with a normal body condition. Her neck measures 27 cm (10.6 in) and her chest 45 cm (17.7 in).
Sooni will be happiest as the only dog in an attentive, affectionate home where she gets plenty of love and attention and a calm, steady routine.
If there is another dog, her family must understand her tendencies, carefully assess compatibility before she moves in, manage the dogs’ interactions, and feed them in separate areas. Busy multi-dog households, homes where treats are handed out to several dogs at once, and families who would struggle to manage her occasional reactions on walks are not a good fit.
Sooni has spent her life caring for puppies. Now it’s her turn to be cared for, by a family who will be on her side for the rest of her life.
“Until now, Sooni has lived as a mother, raising her own puppy and giving her warmth to other puppies, too. From here on, I hope she can live a life that is all her own, loved and cared for. I hope she never has to go through another goodbye, and that she finds a family who will embrace her past, stay on her side, and love her until the very end.”
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Sooni is in foster care in South Korea and will travel to the United States with a flight volunteer once she is matched with a suitable family. Every vetted applicant selected to adopt her receives a two-week trial and monitoring period with continued rescue support.
Adoption fee: $650 · Covers spay, vaccinations, microchip, pre-departure veterinary exam & care, health certificate & transport from South Korea