The adoption process through Korean K9 Rescue
Korean K9 Rescue organizes adoption events almost every weekend and we have been at one of these events to learn more, get a better understanding of the process, and see the pups up close. A few days after that event, they posted about a Golden Retriever available for adoption. I thought: it’s now or never. We decided to fill out an application right away, provided references, and crossed our fingers. Everything went very well. After this, they scheduled an online interview via Zoom – we also had to show our apartment – and right after that, they talked to our contacts. We also had confirmation from the building management that we could have a dog, of any breed or size. We were very excited – everything was moving forward and I concluded that the old story – when it’s meant to be, everything works out.
Our application was approved without further ado, but the Golden Retriever already had a match with another candidate. But since we were already approved, we could adopt any other dog within a month. At first, we didn’t want to choose another dog. We were too attached to the Golden and didn’t think it was right to simply choose another dog. However, there was another adoption event that weekend and we decided to go again and meet the other dogs. There are always new pups and these events are a great opportunity to get to know them beyond Instagram photos and videos.
And, at this event, we met our Dalbit. Dalbit was 6 months old – and we had ZERO interest in adopting a puppy, as we knew the challenges involved. However, I think that in this world of adoption there is destiny. It was like that with us. Dalbit didn’t even come close to me on the day of the event, but we thought he was super cute. We also liked another puppy – Ricky – who was with him. We came home and a couple of days after thinking and talking we decided to talk to the rescue about our interest in the two of them. Ricky had already been adopted, and Dalbit was still available.
The next step was to arrange a video call with Dalbit’s fosters – Korean K9 Rescue puppies don’t stay in one physical place. The rescue has volunteers who temporarily take care of dogs arriving from Korea until they find a forever home. The couple (thank you!) who were taking care of Dalbit had nothing but only good things to say about him – and we ended up convincing ourselves, after that video call, that he was the right dog for us.
That all happened at the beginning of the week. We would pick up Dalbit the following Saturday – and until then, we had a huge to-do list: buying the items from his supply list (the rescue sends a personalized list), hiring a trainer (they require that), buying food, and attending online training. It was crazy cause we didn’t have a lot of days, but everything worked out. On Saturday, March 26, 11 am, we picked up Dalbit and brought him to his forever home: our house.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog?
Obviously, adoption costs vary by rescues. In the case of Korean K9 Rescue:
It’s not cheap to either adopt a dog in New York and maintain it. It’s very important to keep that in mind.
In addition to any fees leveled by your building, dogs cost a lot of money. Even if you adopt or rescue and only pay a few fees upfront, there are vet costs—including necessary vaccinations, shots, medicine for fleas and ticks, and micro-chipping to keep tabs on your little guy—plus food, potty pads, a crate and/or carrier, bed, lots of toys, grooming and possibly a dog walker.
Also realize that owing to the close confines of vertical living—like, say, three trips a day in a teeny little elevator stuffed with friendly and not-so-friendly strangers—dog bites are actually one of the top three apartment insurance claims in NYC. According to apartment insurance broker Gotham Brokerage (a Brick sponsor), the average claim size is $10,000. Make sure your apartment is up to date and that your policy covers your breed of dog, as some aggressive breeds are commonly excluded from coverage.
Marshall also outsmarted his playpen and learned to crawl out. I had to completely change my lifestyle to suit him (and often run home right after work to be with him). It took a little time, but I’ve learned to make the best of things for the both of us. Now that were adjusted, I have no regrets, and I wouldnt change a thing.
A friendly neighbor with a friendly dog can be a major bonus. Emma, seen here with Marshall on his first birthday, plays with him, and her owner has even watched Marshall for extended periods of time.
Dog walkers aren’t cheap. Most charge between $20 and $30 for a 20-to-30-minute walk. I did a lot of research on Yelp and other sites before deciding to go with Bark Ave.
OWNING A DOG | Things to Know Before Getting a Puppy! | Doctor Mike
I was very excited to share the news: a month ago, Thiago and I adopted a dog. I preferred to keep this news for a while because I wanted us to live this moment “privately” first and also to have time for things to settle down. We are learning a lot through this process and, of course, I thought that sharing our experience here could help anyone who is also thinking about adopting a dog here in New York City. In this post, I’ll tell you a little more about our story, the adoption process with Korean K9 Rescue, the adaptation process, tips, and much more!