Kili

Kili = love!

Update: 30 August 2014
It makes me so happy to be able to say that Kili is going to stay in my family & come home with us to South Africa. Thank you so much to those who have supported Kili & I. I came to Korea not intending to take even ONE dog home with me, but now I am leaving with three! :)

Update: 31 July 2013
Kili is so sweet! We have a new house guest, Button the bunny, and she adores watching him and trying to get him to play with her! He doesn't appreciate it too much, as she is a little too boisterous, but takes it in his stride. She is always a big hit when we go to the park and the little kids come running. They love getting her to give them her 손 and she accepts their pats and kisses with pleasure.

Update: 16 July 2013
Kili tested negative for heartworm a few weeks ago! WOHOO!! She was also microchipped and received her Rabies and Kennel Cough vaccines. This little girl is full of life and love.

Update: 8 June 2014
Kili has blossomed even more in the last month she has been with us and, again, there is so much I want to say about her it's almost impossible to document it without sounding like a ridiculous crazy lady. Kili is a dream dog. I love her. That about sums her up.

Hobbies:
Climbing stairs (did you read the part about how she used to be paralysed?)
Getting loved
Play-wrestling with her doggy sister, Nobu
Getting brushed, especially under her chin
Giving "손" (hand)
Waking up mom with kisses, every day!

Update: 15 April 2014
Kili makes me smile every day! I don't know where to begin when writing about her because her list of positives is sooooo long. She adores humans, she adores dogs, she adores playing! She is a sponge for any form of affection. She would do very well with another doggy sibling who likes to play and they would have a great time together! She likes to play a little rough sometimes, so perhaps a doggy the same size as her or a little larger would be good. Sometimes she humps Nobu's head but I find it pretty amusing and Nobu just snarls at her to tell her off. No problem! :D
Her barking has decreased to almost nil. In fact, it's been a few days since I've heard her bark. Also, it has got to the point where she doesn't make a sound when I leave the house. (Potential adopters should be aware that she may bark in the beginning stages but this can be kept under control quite simply.)

Update: 4 April 2014
Kili has been with me for 2 weeks now. While she was a wonderful house guest from the start, I can tell that she is really settling in now and figuring out the routine. She used to be a little noisy when I left the house, but now she is quiet. She barks a little when I come home, from excitement, as though I can't open the door fast enough! I try my best to ignore all my dogs when I get home or leave home to reduce separation anxiety, and this has really worked for her.

Milestone of last night? She climbed the stairs!! I have a loft upstairs where I sleep & she started going half up and down yesterday evening while I was up there. Then, this morning when she heard me wake up, she decided she couldn't possibly wait any longer and she came all the way up stairs to me and my other dog! I don't encourage the stair-climbing, as I guess it's not the best thing for her legs, but it's amazing to see how her strength has improved. This is a dog whose back legs couldn't work! Check out this video!

Kili ADORES my other dogs and she adores me! She is one of the few dogs I'd not hesitate to put into a home with children. She loves the attention and is so chilled out. She loves playing with my other dogs, especially my fuzzy Nobu, and it's pretty hilarious because she likes to pester Nobu a bit by pulling her fur, chewing on her legs and seemingly tugging on Nobu's teats! Nobu is so patient and they romp around a whole lot until finally Nobu bares her teeth when she's had enough. They keep me entertained for ages!

Update: 26 March 2014
Kili has a great appetite and good manners. We are working on house training and she is quickly getting the idea of how peepads work.

She does this adorable thing where, if you say "손" (hand) she gives you her paw. Once you've got her hand in yours, she flips over onto her back and exposes her tummy for giant tickles. When you tickle her tummy her WHOLE body squirms and wriggles in pleasure. She is just a darling!! And she loooooves kisses!

Update: 24 March 2014
Kili is loving being in my home! She really, really loves her human and is content whenever she is around me (or any other human!). She had a wonderful time yesterday in the park with her foster brother, Noodle. She soaked up the sun and the affection that was doled out to her by the children playing there. She absolutely loved them and the amount of attention she was getting! I was so impressed to see how well she did with kids. She loved them stroking her and the one little girl picked her up a few times (nicely, of course) and Kili just lay in her arms and "smiled". Adorable! Have a look at her photos in the comment section below.

Update: 21 March 2014
Kili has finished her heartworm treatment and spent her first night in foster care with me last night. She was perfectly behaved! I'm pleased to report that she ate all her dinner, slept the whole night without making a peep and ate her breakfast this morning too. She has been totally fine with my other 2 dogs, but I separate them when I am not around anyway. She has yet to figure out what her bed is, choosing to sleep on a scrunched up peepad instead, sweet baby. :) She's had a tough life but it's just got a whole lot better, that's for sure.

I am leaving Korea in one month, so unfortunately there is a time limit as to how long she can stay with me. Please consider adding this lovebug to your family. Her smiley face and friendly demeanor will ensure you don't regret your decision. By the way, she is a lot smaller than she appears in her photos.

Regarding her health:
- She is UTD on her vaccinations.
- She has finished her heartworm treatment. She will need to take Heartguard on 22 March, 22 April, 22 May & then have a heartworm test to ensure she is heartworm negative.
- She is highly mobile and loves running around and going on walks (can you believe she was once "paralysed"?)

She is a very deserving candidate for a wonderful family. Have a look at her new photos below. (Plenty more on their way!)

Update:12 Feb 2014
Kili will start the immiticide injections to kill her heartworms this Friday, Valentine's Day. Awwww, Kili's heart starts to get fixed on V-Day! <3 Please keep her in your thoughts. She will need a foster home to recover in. Please see her new running photos in the comments section!

Update: 5 Feb 2014
Today Kili will receive the start of her pre-heartworm treatment medication. A week or so later she will begin her h/w treatment. I will keep everyone updated on her progress. This little girl is so sweet and the entire vet staff adore her, bringing her out whenever the rooms are quiet and playing with her. She has a lovely little smiley face and she is MUCH smaller than she looks in photos! After her h/w treatment she would LOVE a warm, quiet home in which to recover. Please send your application form to me at [email protected] if you would like to foster or adopt her.

Little speed demon, I could barely keep up with her! :)

Update: 17 Jan 2014
I popped in to visit Kili tonight and this little lady is 100% lovebug! It was so funny, I told my mom, who is visiting from overseas "now you can meet the little paralysed dog". The nurse opened the door and Kili ran out past us, we greeted another dog & a few minutes later my mom said "so where's the paralysed dog?" Haha! Kili you little rascal! Motoring around like that! She is no longer paralysed, only her one leg doesn't work. She is highly mobile & will be able to enjoy nice walks with her human.

She received her DHPPL vaccination today too. She is more than ready to go into a home!

Update: 26 Dec 2013
Kili can now RUN!!

Update: 14 Dec 2013
Only a week. ONE WEEK! And she can walk.

I hadn't been in to see her for a week. During that time one of the vet nurses was doing 10-min exercises, 3 x a day with her. (Basically helping her into a standing position and then allowing her to just stand up.) I couldn't believe my eyes when I went in to visit and they excitedly brought her out & showed me this:

and then this:

Thank goodness Mr Park saw this girl and decided to give her a chance. So many people would turn the other way. So many people do not realise the absolute joy & love that all animals, including the "imperfect" ones, bring. Special needs animals have been some of the absolute best I have had the privilege of fostering. Watching them conquer each hurdle without grumbling, whining or complaining is truly inspirational. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true.

Kili is still looking for a pet-free foster or forever home where she can continue to get stronger and stronger. Please be her Christmas angel. :)

Update: 8 Dec 2013
I visited Kili and took some new photos of her. She is an absolute lovebug with humans - adores them!! - but the vet staff say she does not do well with other dogs. (I'm assuming cats too.) Therefore, she would do best in a pet-free home.

(Kili's fundraiser page is here: http://www.animalrescuekorea.org/blog/clarebell/help-for-heartworm-posit...)

I got a FULL update on her health status from Dr Choi. Please read below!

1. She has had a course of pain medicine combined with liver support medicine because her liver enzymes were high. (This is due to the physical damage caused by the broken bones, injuring her liver.)

4. She has Grade 2 heartworm. Because of the season, the progression is very slow, which we why we have focused on her vaccinations and liver enzymes first. Heartworm treatment will be started as soon as the vet gives the go-ahead.

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Initial post:

Kili was pulled out of the Asan City Pound by Mr Park. He brought her straight to my vet and I met him there, offering to help with finding this sweet girl a home.

She was (presumably) hit by a car a while ago and x-rays show that her back has been broken in 3 different places around the pelvic area. This means she cannot walk on her hind legs and did not appear to have any feeling in her hind quarters. Strangely though, when tested for pain all over, she showed very little reaction, even though we knew she must be able to feel pain on her ears, front legs etc. So the vet is going to give her pain medication and see what difference, if any, that makes. Anyway, she didn't make a peep the entire time and just sat there allowing us to stroke her and allowing the vet to poke her with a pin!

I asked the vet for a full health check the following day. Here are the results:
1. Back broken in 3 places. She appears to be able to urinate and defecate on her own though.
2. Liver enzymes are out of whack. Vet thinks the break in the spine has physically damaged a bit of her liver, but this can probably be rectified with medication once everything else is under control. Not a big problem.
3. Heartworm positive. Grade 2. >.<
4. Low antibody levels.

Planned course of action:
1. 5 days of pain medication.
2. Initial vaccinations.
3. Begin heartworm treatment.

For the time being, she is in boarding at my vet. This costs W10,000 per day (discounted). The costs of boarding plus all of the above are certainly going to add up, so I will be starting a fundraiser very soon.

She will also need a foster home to go to! At this stage I don't know much else about her but we will learn as we go along. I will be here as support for the foster all the way, and we can (hopefully) raise funds to cover all the big costs. If you are able to foster her, please complete the application form and e-mail it to me.