Beautiful Little Joey

UPDATE: Jan. 17, 2013
It's been a roller coaster of a week for Joey and I as we are once again trying to prepare for flight!
Joey has been fortunate enough to have had yet another offer of help from across the ocean, and this time, because her new foster is in Toronto, we will be able to take advantage of it!
This is my first time trying to prepare a dog for flight, and it has been extremely stressful! Fortunately, things seem to be somewhat under control at this time and I'm hoping for no more surprises. As each hurdle is cleared, it brings us closer to the goal, and the next hurdle is actually getting Joey on the plane.
Because some wonderful people have offered to courier her, the cost is significantly lower than it would be if she were to fly alone. I have also recently found out that the cost of Joey's flight will be covered by ARK members, so that is one less thing to worry about! Thanks so much everyone!
Please keep this little girl in your thoughts over the next little while- She has been through so much in her life, and she's such a sensitive individual, so it all takes its toll. Fortunately, she is going to a wonderful rescue group called "From My Heart Rescue" and her future is looking very good!
Updates will be posted here and on her profile as they become available. Thanks to everyone who has been following Joey's story and has contributed to her progress!

UPDATE: Jan. 10, 2013
Although there have been some extremely kind offers and so many people wanting to help Joey get a forever home, we keep running into significant barriers and obstacles that are seriously limiting what we can do, and therefore, Joey will be remaining in Korea for the immediate future, and she is again, on the lookout for a forever home. I also recently found out that Joey most likely has a hernia, which could potentially cause serious problems for her in the future if it is not corrected.
On a more positive note, the family in Canada who was hoping to adopt Joey has graciously offered to pay for her spay surgery, which should greatly increase Joey's chances of getting adopted, and the vet has recommended getting her hernia fixed at the same time which he offered to do at a discounted price.
So the immediate goal for Joey is to take full advantage of the amazingly generous offer by her Canadian admirers, and also get her hernia looked after to avoid more serious problems down the road. That means Joey will be going under the knife in the fairly near future, and it also means that there is a new donation request blog on the ARK page.

UPDATE: Dec. 30, 2012
We are still urgently looking for anyone who is travelling to Canada willing to courier Joey!
If you or anyone you know may be able to help, please contact me as soon as you can!
Joey's ultimate destination is Kenora, Ontario, Canada, but even if you can just get her over the ocean, it would be an enormous help!

The great news: Joey has found a home!!!
The challenge: Getting her there...
Because of some networking a past Asan volunteer has been doing for Joey in Canada, our beautiful little Maltese has found a family who'd love to give Joey her well-deserved forever home. This family lives in Kenora, Ontario, Canada, so we now need to find a way to get Joey to her new home.
What would be. by far, the preferred method would be to find someone who is traveling in that direction willing to bring Joey along with him/her. This would be far less expensive and probably a bit easier on Joey. If you have any travel plans to this part of the world in the future and would be willing to have Joey tag along, please contact me as soon as you can. You would be providing the final and critical piece to ensure Joey's happy and safe future!
If you or someone you know may be able to help, please email me at [email protected]

Beautiful little Joey:

Joey is a beautiful little girl with so much to offer her forever family! Living in foster care, Joey has had a chance to build confidence and overcome some of her fears. She has adapted well to living in an apartment. These days, she is always eager to go for walks- long or short- and if she is comfortable with a particular person, she can be enthusiastically affectionate. She tolerates long days cooped up in the apartment while her caretaker is working, and she only barks when she hears someone at the door. Joey is an excellent size for living in an apartment and her vocalizations are limited to some happy little "hello-I'm-so-glad-you're-finally-home" yips to greet her person and these adorable (and quiet) growly howls she'll express when she is particularly happy about something. On top of that, she is house-trained, she is proving to be very quick to learn basic commands, quite good on the leash, and generally excellent around other dogs. Joey loves spending time with her foster brother, a small poodle.

Her personality has really been shining as she continues to get more confident by the day. Her two favorite things in the world are treats and walks, and anytime I ask her if she wants one of the two, her entire body will freeze in what looks like an impossible position of disbelief and hardly contained elation while she studies my face for any indication that I might be pulling her leg.

I have never seen Joey be anything but friendly and/or curious toward other adult dogs, and I know she would do well in a family with some mature canine companionship. That being said, she cannot be trusted around puppies younger than one month, and I wouldn’t leave her unsupervised around any other small animals like hamsters or guinea pigs.
She really is a wonderful little dog who has overcome so much, and she is such a fabulous companion!
To see this wonderful little being bloom into the confident and happy girl she was born to be would be a truly rewarding experience! Please consider giving Joey a reason to trust and love the human race by taking her home and loving her for the remainder of her years!

Joey’s health status:
Joey is 100 percent ready for her forever home! Heartworm negative, UTD on all her shots, de-wormed.

Joey’s rescue story:
What is known about Joey is that she was abandoned at a city pound, spent a good portion of the winter in an outdoor animal shelter, and most recently overcame a bout with heartworm. What becomes obvious about Joey upon meeting her, is that she so badly wants to forget her past and to trust people so that she doesn't have to be anxious and lonely all of the time.

At the shelter, Joey was most often observed crouched up in the corner of her pen, trying to stay warm and trying to be invisible. Something from her past was telling her she couldn't trust these humans that were walking up and down the hallways- that people will only make her situation worse. Fortunately for her, shelter staff and volunteers gently worked with her; hand feeding her food and treats, stroking her rigid body and every once in a while, coaxing her out of her corner and into the light of the day.

This little girl is such a joy to have around and she is living proof of what a dog can do with a second chance! If you are looking for an affectionate and energetic little friend with eternally inquisitive eyes and an overwhelming desire to please her closest friends, why not make her life complete by giving her a safe and loving home for the rest of her years?