Reviews & Testimonials

Nothing makes us happier than knowing these special dogs are thriving in their new lives with their caring owners. Please read these heartfelt testimonials from some of our pawrents. ❤︎ (Click on the name for the testimonials)

  • Dear Sue,

    We wanted to show you our gratitude for everything you’ve done for our family. Our boy is perfect!

    It’s truly incredible, the time and efforts Yongin Pound (YPAP) and you give to these dogs. Thank you truly.

    You’ve helped expand our family.

    Best of luck with all future rescues!

    Sincerely,

    K & L

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  • I saw a post that my friend shared on Facebook about Pete and I had to stop scrolling. I showed it to one of my kids who instantly agreed that there was something there. We had talked about getting a dog before but never followed through. This time, it was different.

    The whole process from applying to bringing him home was smooth and fast. The team at Koastal are really invested in the work they do. Sue and Summer (Pete’s Korean Rescuer) were amazing to work with. Collectively, we knew little about Pete, and he couldn’t be placed in foster when he was rescued due to his size. Large dogs are hard to place in Foster homes in Korea.. Summer spent some time with him to give us some idea on what his temperament was like.

    We’ve had Pete home for 3 months now, and we’ve learned that he is extremely laidback, loves people and may have had some training in the past. All he cares about is a tiny spot for him to nap. That’s a big deal for a big dog. We have found him napping in a laundry basket once, the fireplace another time, the bare floor next to his bed. He isn’t a dog who wants much. He’s extremely popular when we go on walks, at work, kids and the extended family. He absolutely adores cats. He loves to snuggle and will hug strangers if they let him. He has a calm and peaceful demeanour.

    We couldn’t have gotten a more perfect dog!

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  • For those of you who are thinking about adopting from Koastal, know that Sue is the real deal. She works so hard and really takes care to make sure that dogs are matched well with their furever homes. It's clear that she puts her heart and soul into this work and has developed great partnerships in Korea. We need more people like Sue in the world.

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  • We received Vans who we have re named Jack on the 19 th of September 2022. We had been

    looking for the right dog for a while and been through 3 other rescue groups but nothing had quite

    clicked yet. When we saw Jack on the Koastal dog rescue website we both felt very strongly that Jack

    was going to be our newest member of the family. After some back and forth with Sue, she supported

    us in how we felt and next thing you know Jack arrived here in Vancouver.

    Jack is an absolute beacon of happiness in our lives, he has a beautiful deminer and has become

    so loyal yet calm in how he acts. We found the first 3 days to be peaceful and loved watching him settle

    into our apartment, he seemed to be already toilet trained and despite a couple small territory markings

    at my mates place he had no issues waiting until outside to do his thing. We were cautious with him off

    leash at first but within about 2 weeks we felt comfortable in the trails letting him run and working on

    his recall. It’s been 6 weeks now and we couldn’t be happier with Jack and find it hard to realize what we

    talked about before he came into our life!

    Jacks absolute favourite place to be is out in the trails and woods. He has even been camping a

    few times, paddle boarding and canoeing. Last week we went to stay at a horse farm north in the

    interior, this was the first time we heard Jack woof as we headed off on horse back into the woods

    leaving jack behind to keep watch on our cabin. Jack can turn on his energy when he wants to but will

    chill happily in his bed when home. He can now sit, lie down and stay… kind of. Needless to say we are

    loving the bond that is forming with Jack and see daily his personality

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  • “I’d been looking at adopting a dog for quite some time, and I wanted it to be a rescue where I knew I could make an impact. I had been searching locally on Facebook, right in what felt like the height of pandemic adopters. As a young adult in Vancouver, not having a yard is seen as a negative to most rescues and I never heard back from any applications.

    I just happened upon YPAP adoptions page one day, when I saw this giant list of dogs listed as euthanasia dogs. All of them were so beautiful and a lot of young ones! It was so heartbreaking. As I was scrolling through the list I always came back to this timid looking black dog. He looked so fluffy, and had these big brown eyes!

    I finally showed the list of dogs to my partner, and as I scrolled through the list he pointed immediately: “that one!” And shortly after I was on a FaceTime interview with Sue and we brought our ball of fur home! He’s been nothing short of incredible. He’s the most resilient dog. He’s gone through so much in his little life. We learned he’s barely two at the vet! He’s learned a new language, new commands, went through a training program, rode in a few boats this summer, and a bit of swimming! He has so much energy for this new world and gets us out hiking all the time! We’re just starting him on off leash training and he’s finally able to chase all the squirrels his little heart desires.

    Above all, we are so grateful that Sue and the YPAP team made the process so so simple, they just want what’s best for each and every dog. I cannot say enough good things about them! I would highly recommend their rescue. It was honestly easier than adopting locally, and so rewarding!”

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  • Encho's Journey

    To the adoptive pet parents, fosters, volunteers, and supporters of Koastal Dog Rescue and Yongin Pound Adoption Page - YPAP, I just wanted to take a moment to share my experience of how it has been to adopt and love Encho.

    Encho had been in the shelter for a few years by then. He is an older dog, but with a puppy's playful heart. His happy smile in the photos endeared him to me right away.

    I first reached out to YPAP via instagram in March of 2021 after seeing Encho's pictures, and they connected me with Sue at Koastal Dog Rescue.

    COVID had slowed travel down immensely and we waited a long time for flight volunteers. Sue and YPAP worked very hard to find someone, and the volunteers at Yongin Pound Volunteers and YPAP were so wonderful to Encho. They took him out of the pound as soon as a foster was found, and the fosters were all so kind and sent photos and videos of him to me. They were integral in socializing Encho and getting him used to people again. His sweet nature was always there, but a hard life made him food-aggressive and a little fearful/anxious, especially around men.

    YPAP and Koastal made sure that he visited the vet and was treated for any illnesses or infections he might have had. They even covered his dental work! Encho was going to travel quite far and so it was important that he be in the best of health, especially as an older dog.

    He stayed at a few foster homes until we were able to secure a flight volunteer. His fosters loved him so much that I felt somewhat bad taking him away.

    When it came time to travel, I was incredibly worried. His age was a major factor, and I was also concerned about how he would handle such a huge adjustment, moving from Korea to Canada.

    When I went to pick him up at the airport, he was very anxious and fearful. There were too many confusing things that overwhelmed him, and he was confined in the kennel for so long! I'm grateful to the flight volunteers. I hope he wasn't too disruptive during the flight. He certainly made a ruckus outside the Customs office though.

    It was December 28 when he arrived - my belated Christmas present. I covered his kennel with my coat and talked to him softly while carrying him out of the airport terminal to calm him down and get used to me. When I got to the car, my brother made sure to play K-pop so that things would at least sound familiar to him!

    It's been just over half a year now since that day. I've added photos from back then and chronicled his new life in a progression of pictures.

    I had to work to gain his trust. It wasn't always easy, as I had to learn his boundaries and comfort level to work with him, and of course we can't talk to each other! He has growled and snapped at people, even me, but that has diminished over time.

    Now, he enjoys lounging on comfy couches, beds, and laps and playing with his cat brothers. Walks in the park are his absolute favourite thing. His tail wags happily whenever meeting new dogs, and while he will bark at new people, he stops once he "meets" (and sniffs) them.

    He's got a loving, comfortable home, and is spoiled beyond belief with outfits, toys, and a pantry full of treats. He's been gaining weight and more strength in his legs, despite his somewhat bowlegged stride and hip dysplasia. Just today, he was hanging out at the neighbors' house while I was at work, sleeping on their laps and getting fed fresh chicken!

    I just wanted to share Encho's story with all of you. I was thinking about what a remarkable change and journey that must have been from this little old dog's perspective. It's almost miraculous to think that this little pup could have been euthanized half a world away, if not for what YPAP and Koastal have done to give him a second chance at life.

    On behalf of Encho and myself, thank you.

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  • Our lives were forever changed one mid July afternoon when I messaged Sue from Koastal and told her we are ready! We have been without a four legged family member for about five years after having two for over 17. She knew the perfect dog for us. Within minutes of sending us the profile of “Apollo” we started the adoption process. We learned he had been in foster for a while and perhaps it was his size that was preventing him from being adopted. We were pretty nervous adopting a dog we had not even met. However, his temperament was 100% accurate, as described in his profile. He is the perfect family dog for our active family. Communications and details of how to do pick up at the airport was clear. She sent us a full package of safety instructions on how to keep our new rescue safe. He came with all his shots, freshly bathed, and his teeth were perfectly clean. He had a collar, leash and came in a new kennel. We renamed him Maverick and he’s been the perfect new addition to our family.

    Thank you to Koastal Dog Rescue for a wonderful adoption process!

    ~the Nelsons

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  • My lifelong dream was to adopt a dog, so as soon as I was able to do so, I started looking for a pup. I came across YPAP’s Facebook page, and then to their Instagram, where I found the pictures of a little dog with stained eyes and a long coat named Merlin.

    He was found on the streets and had been in the shelter for a year, never claimed nor adopted. I immediately reached out asking to apply to adopt Merlin. Within a few weeks, Sue had interviewed me, and I found out my dream dog was mine! The rescue sent so many updates in the longest 2 months of my life that it took to get Merlin to Canada. Each message and video made my day, and I promptly would show them to all my friends and family. He loved his walks, sniffing everything, and was very ‘unbothered’ by whatever was going on around him.

    Now almost a year later, Merlin still loves his walks, but he is also the most affectionate, gentle dog ever once he gets to know you. He is truly my best friend, my velcro dog. He loves to eat apples, oranges, and cucumber, and play with his kitten brother, George. Seeing him blossom from the scared, sad dog that arrived and into the silly boy who loves a good belly scratch and car rides has been the most rewarding experience.

    Sue, the YPAP team, and flight volunteers – thank you SO much for getting my sweet boy to me. The work you do is inspiring!

    ❤️

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