Yes! We host adoption events almost every weekend. You can find the event details from our Events page or on social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook).

Other in-person meetings with the dogs will only be arranged on a case by case basis, subject to availability of the volunteer foster. In-person or virtual meetings with the dog and foster can be arranged for adopters who are being considered for a match.

Prior to the adoption event:

1. Fill out an application
2. Bring a printed or digital copy of your application – a copy was sent to the email you used on your application at the time of submission (please check junk/spam in case). 
3. Bring your landlord or board/co-op approval for pets (if applicable) – we can accept communication in the form of email, lease, rider, or addendum. Text messages or screenshots are not accepted. 
4. Be prepared to show photos/video of your residence(s).
5. Bring all of your human household members to be considered for adoption.
6. Notify your references – we may contact them prior to or during the event.
7. Plan to show up early for a chance at bringing home a pup the same day! (The event typically starts at 11:30am)

During and after the adoption event:

1. Sign in and let the check-in desk know which dogs you are interested in, and leave your phone number. 
2. Meet the dogs! Kindly wear a mask inside the adoption truck. Please follow volunteer instructions on how to make the interactions as comfortable as possible for the pups.
3. Check back in with the front desk to sign up for an interview. Cut-off time for the last interview is at 1:30pm.
4. After the interview, you will be contacted only if you are selected to adopt. If approved, you will receive a custom supply list for the dog and a transport carrier to bring the dog home same-day. 

On a case-by-case basis, we accept applications from residents living within a 150-mile radius of NYC (unless otherwise noted) EXCLUDING Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

We also accept applications on a case-by-case basis from residents living in the following cities:

• Boston, MA (or within 30 minutes driving distance)
• Baltimore, MD (city limits only*)
• Washington D.C. (city limits only*)
• Los Angeles, CA (or within 90 minutes driving distance)
• San Francisco, CA (case by case basis)

The following are steps to adopt if you are from out of state and unable to attend an adoption event:

1. Fill out an application
2. Provide your landlord or board/co-op approval for pets (if applicable) – we can accept communication in the form of email, lease, rider, or addendum. Text messages or screenshots are not accepted. 
3. Be prepared to show photos/video of your residence(s).
4. Be prepared for a virtual interview if you are selected for next steps.
5. Notify your references – we may contact them prior.

Adopters will need to pick up the dog at the locations below. Masks and safe social distancing are required when traveling to our locations.

• Astoria, Queens or NYC Adoption Events: Adopters within 150-miles of NYC, Adopters in Baltimore, MD, and Adopters in Washington D.C. will pick up the dog here.
• Quarantine Facility in MA: MA adopters will pick up the dog here.
• Los Angeles, CA: LA adopters will pick up the dog in a designated location in LA.
• San Francisco, CA: SF adopters will pick up the dog in a designated location in SF.

1. Fill out an application. We accept applications from within a 30-minute driving distance of Boston.
2. If selected for next steps, you will be contacted by our adoption team. Applicants chosen to move forward can meet the dog virtually. 
3. If approved to adopt a dog that is currently fostered in MA, pickup will be arranged in the Boston area. If the dog is fostered in NY, per MA regulations, KK9R will transport the dog to a quarantine facility in MA, where the dog will be quarantined for 48 hours and picked up at the quarantine facility. 
4. Turnaround times for MA adoptions can be 7-10 days after approval, due to transport and quarantine requirements. 
5. All MA adoptions have an additional $180 quarantine fee. 

Massachusetts Import License Number: 0113

Unfortunately, we are unable to logistically uproot and move dogs that are fostered in NYC to LA or vice versa. This process can be quite costly and also disrupts the dog’s adjustment to its current environment. Our priority is to provide a stable and comfortable setting for the dogs in our care, and we appreciate your understanding of our limitations.

KK9R is an international adoption agency. Our dogs are transported from South Korea to the US. We have a state-of-the-art rescue facility located in Bundang, Korea where the dogs receive medical care and a safe haven before they leave Korea.

The standard adoption fee covers the cost to rescue each dog. It includes full vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuter, rehabilitation, quarantine, and transport via flight volunteer. Adoption fees are non-refundable.

We are a private US non-profit rescue group and solely rely on adoption fees, donations and NGO grants to cover the costs to continue our mission helping homeless and mistreated dogs in South Korea. To see a breakdown of where the adoption fee is applied and how it’s used, please visit our Annual Report. Additionally, Korean K9 Rescue, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation that was incorporated in New York that the Internal Revenue Service has determined qualifies for classification as a section 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN#81-4950261). NYS charity registration # 46-48-24. NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets # RR274.

If you are looking for a lower adoption fee, we encourage you to still adopt from a local shelter, SPCA, ACC (your local municipal shelter) or domestic rescue group.

*The adoption fee for dogs in the West Coast is different. Please check here for details.

While we do not have an open-admissions system, we are pleased to announce our new pre-approval policy! We follow a thorough screening process for all applicants due to the unique nature of our dogs and process. Many of our dogs come from traumatic or abusive backgrounds (such as dog meat market trade, strays, abandonment, and high kill shelters). Most of our dogs have never lived in a home prior to the foster period with us, and we carefully assess each dog to ensure we understand their needs. We then screen applicants who would be best suited to that dog’s needs.  

Pre-approved applicants receive priority consideration for a particular dog or set of dogs for a period of 30 days max. If a match is not finalized during this time, we will require a follow up call or interview.

The applications team takes typically 7-14 days to process applications. As it states on our adoption application, we are unable to reply to each application unless you are selected for the next steps. We are a mostly volunteer run organization and ask that you follow up via email to applications@koreank9rescue.org  if you haven’t heard back after the 14 day processing period. 

If you are pre-approved and have confirmed you want to move forward with the adoption, adoptions take place within 48 hours during the week, or can be same-day at the events. Since we are a foster-based rescue, we rely on quick turnaround times once the right match is determined to get our dogs in their forever homes and free up fosters to welcome new dogs into their homes! We ask that you be prepared to act quickly in purchasing supplies and enrolling in training, as well as being flexible about orientation and pickup times.  

Please review our Adoption Procedures for more information!

Additionally, you must be able to take 2-3 days off from work (even if you work remotely) immediately after you pick up your new dog. This is necessary to properly integrate the dog into your new home and help them adjust. Click here to learn about the 21-day adjustment period!

Our dogs come from high kill shelters, dog meat farms, dog meat markets, strays and/or abandoned dogs on the streets or rural villages in South Korea. We have built a solid network with incredible activists and rescuers who are on the ground in Korea, saving as many dogs as possible. The adoption rate in Korea is less than 10% in Korean animal shelters, which makes it highly unlikely that these dogs would ever be adopted in their native country of Korea. Working with incredible volunteers and rescuers allows us to have our own dedicated rehabilitation and quarantine facility in Bundang, Korea. Our facility gives these dogs an opportunity to rehabilitate/train/socialize and prepare them for adoption in the US. Please check our Mission page and then our KK9R In Korea page to see more of our center in Bundang, Korea.

Yes, all of our adoptable dogs are fully vaccinated age appropriately prior to departing Korea for the US. We are in compliance with the CDC, USDA, APHIS and CBP. We must submit all health certificates and proof of vaccinations prior to the dogs entering the US. All adoptable dogs are also spayed/neutered and microchipped prior to adoption.

We believe that it is necessary for each adopter to enroll in training in order to build a solid relationship with their new dog. The dog’s meet many different people and new environments during their trip from Korea to NY and we want their integration into your new home to be as non-threatening and respectful as possible. This is no small task, as it requires each adopter to be truly dedicated to helping their dog with its specific needs through a proper meeting. The training begins on the first meeting of your new dog and the first day you bring your dog home. Training cannot just be a last resort; it has to be the first step for every single adopter and we have been ensuring that we educate our adopters about this before they commit to adopting from us. As a result, the majority of our adopters have had wonderful success stories and positive relationships with their dogs.

Each of our approved trainers have been tried and tested with dozens of KK9R alumni dogs. They also know and understand the Korean Jindo breed well. Each trainer has their own business practice and fees; KK9R does not take any fees or collect any commission from these trainers. We use trainers based on their performance, ability to work with adopters, and their ability to successfully rehab the dog. The mandatory training packages are $300+, depending on the assigned trainer and the number of training sessions required. We keep in touch with our adopters to monitor and ensure that the adopters are happy with the services that the trainer provides.

Once you are approved to adopt, then you will be connected to your assigned trainer based on the dog’s needs, the location, and availability.

All of our adoptable dogs shed – they are mixes and most of our dogs are spitz mixes with a double coat that can shed throughout the year. Additionally, our dogs are not guaranteed to be hypoallergenic.

You can purchase the required pet supplies anywhere that you would like. If approved to adopt, please follow the Supplies List that is provided to you by our team, as it is customized for your dog. Please note that our dogs are a flight risk. They are international and need time to trust you and their new environment first. Given that it can take months to build trust, we require a mandatory Fi GPS collar for each dog adopted and the collar can be purchased from our rescue at a 50% discounted rate.

We partner with NYC Pet which has seven store locations in Brooklyn. They do same-day delivery and offer 10% to our adopters. We do not profit from any of the sales of the supplies. We are only affiliated as a partner because they support our mission and make the process as convenient as possible for our adopters. That is something we appreciate and we hope you do too.