Let me tell you a little bit about my mama and how she came to adopt me. She’s from Arizona, where she always had dogs, but in 2006 she moved to San Francisco into an apartment where dogs weren’t allowed. Her (elderly) dogs stayed behind in Arizona with her parents, and she tried to get used to a no-pet life. A few years later she moved into a different San Francisco apartment, where she still wasn’t supposed to have dogs, but she really, really missed having furry friends.

She wanted to start spending time with dogs, so she decided to do a little bit of pet-sitting. There were a few different families that she started working with, walking their pups during the day and staying with them when their humans would go out of town. She loved them, and that worked out really well for a couple of years. Then in the autumn of 2015 one of those dogs that she loved passed away. He was a big Swiss Mountain dog named Chief, and he died way too young of unexplained seizures. Even though he wasn’t mama’s dog, she was heartbroken. After she mourned for a little while, she decided that it was time to get her own dog. She was able to get an exception at her apartment and started looking for a dog.

Mama was mostly looking online at the San Francisco SPCA website. She had volunteered with them through their Animal Assisted Therapy program, taking one of those dogs that she was pet-sitting to provide therapy to children and adults dealing with trauma, homelessness, substance abuse issues, etc. She loved doing that work and was impressed with the professionalism, experience, and knowledge of the staff that she met there. She had learned about the long history of the SF SPCA and felt like it was a great place to start looking for a dog. When she saw my photo online, she just knew that I was the dog for her.

Mama hadn’t planned on getting a dog right then, because it was a few weeks before Christmas and she had plans to fly to see her family in Arizona for the holidays. But how could she leave me in the shelter? What if someone else decided they wanted me before she got back? After all, I was really darn cute, so even though I had been there for three months there was always the chance someone would take me.

In fact, a family had taken me, but I didn’t work out well in their home and they had quickly returned me. On the day that my mama went to meet me, the SF SPCA was actually unexpectedly closed because they had a weird computer problem that shut down their entire operation for the day! Mama was like, “What the heck? I know this is supposed to be, so hey universe, what’s going on?” She came back the next day and a volunteer introduced us, and it was love at first sight.

Okay, let’s be honest; it was love at first sight for mama. I was a rescue dog with a lot of issues and was wary of new things, so I wasn’t so sure at first. But mama knew, and she said, “Yep, I want her.” Only it turned out that there was a problem; the volunteer that had shown me to her was brand new and didn’t realize that someone else had already put a hold on me saying they wanted me! This was getting crazy. Mama was like, “I know that this dog is for me so just call me when she’s ready.” Sure enough, the next day, Mama got the call from SF SPCA saying that the other family decided not to take me, and I could go home with her. Mama got everything ready for me and came to get me the following day.

And I was all ready to go. Well, kind of. The problem was that I didn’t want to actually leave the shelter to get there. A whole bunch of people were there to say goodbye to me and to wish me luck in my new life, but I didn’t want to leave them because they were safe. I didn’t know this new mama, and I definitely didn’t want to get in that car. Everyone tried to bribe me in there with chicken and treats, but I tucked my tail, planted my feet and said, “No thanks.” Eventually, they picked me up and put me in the car.

There were a lot of “firsts” in those early months. You see, even though I was two years old, I had never had a home before. I was rescued from the dog meat industry in South Korea, and coming here was the first time I had ever been treated with any kindness. I had to learn everything like how to climb stairs, how to do my business outside, how to clean my face off after eating my food. I was scared of everybody and all new things. But gradually, I became comfortable in this new life. And then I began to love it. It’s been three years since I came to the United States, and I’m a brand new dog. I’m funny, playful, and brave. I’ve been on trains, ferries, and even in a canoe. I’ve played in snow, hiked in the redwoods, and attended a variety of events. I have even modeled for a local dog accessories company! I guard my mama carefully but I’m a big gentle giant. Mostly, we just hang out together all day and mama laughs and I play and we are just happy.

Want to keep up with my story over time? Find me on Instagram @rescuedogkatara.