So what's your story?

Yes, we adopted ourselves a little friend nearly 2 weeks ago. His name was Totto when we got him, but we're working towards Sawyer. He answers to it just as much as he answers to Totto, so we feel it's a sign for him to leave the old behind and start fresh. We did lots of research before adopting a pet and found out it isn't difficult or even expensive to bring them home, especially if they are small and can be brought in-cabin. So we started looking and found Sawyer on an English rescue website for abandoned and rescued animals in Korea.

He began life with a middle aged Korean couple, was given to a middle aged Korean woman, and then given to that woman's son. The son was a teacher at an English school and arranged for his American co-workers to look after Sawyer for a week while he went on vacation. The guy sent an email 2 weeks later saying he wasn't coming back, he just felt bad leaving Sawyer on the street. Thankfully for us the American couple kept him and posted him on the site.

He is in good health, but he's had it rough. He is terrified of clinking dishes, clapping, or really any sudden noise. He's not to good with Korean men and we're sure he's been hit by them in the past. When we leave for work he shakes and when we return he goes crazy like he was left alone for days. Hopefully over time that will all pass.

The best way to sum up Korean sentiment for dogs is: expendable, vermin, accessories. You keep it until the novelty wears off and you're tired of caring for it. Then let it run away, leave it at a shelter, or just pass it on to someone else. They have strange ideas about what is "cruel" to do to a dog (getting it micro-chipped, or fixed) but no regard for it's need to be socialized, go outside or be house trained. Every Korean friend has told us that he needs a bow. Are you kidding me? I'm already preparing myself for the fact that he will need to wear a sweater/coat in the winter out of necessity (he has a super thin coat and it gets pretty cold here). So no, no bow. Sheesh.

So that's Sawyer. Not a super "fun" or "goofy" post, but I thought his story was worth telling.