Matt

Update: 22 March 2014
Matt landed safely in the US of A yesterday and you can tell he's been waiting for this his whole life. Thank you Jenny & family for giving him this chance. Congratulations!!

Such a team of people came together to make this happen!

박희태 for keeping him safe.
Leonie Staples & Jennifer Baptista Smith for raising the funds to send him to school. (Look what you did! )
AnyDog School for taking such good care of him and being so obliging!
Allison Young for featuring Matt in her promo video called "3 dogs", giving him much-needed exposure.
Julie Taylor-Park for helping me with the application from Matt's new mom and sorting stuff out while I was away.
Marco Park for helping order his crate.
Stephanie Inserra for helping with his water bottle & getting his health papers for me.
Dr Kyoungmo Yang for doing the health certificates so speedily.
Katherine Burdick & husband for couriering Matt to the USA.
Sujin Kim for keeping me sane & finding a Korean volunteer to transport Matt to the airport. Sujin: you are a machine!
Jamie (volunteer) for getting Matt to Incheon airport.
ALL those who stepped up when I posted looking for help in getting him to the airport (Patricia Tolman Mitchelll, Heather Reitsma, Dean Stannard, Jenny Lynn Pitre etc.)
ALL those who posted/shared Matt's profile, donated towards him, spent time with him at the shelter and sent words of encouragement.
And of course to his forever family, Jenny Dougherty Wilson & family.

Update: 11 March 2014
A wonderful person has stepped up to courier Matt to his forever home in the States. He will be flying out of Korea on the 21st of March. I can't wait!

Update: 15 Feb 2014

Matt needs a courier to one of the following airports, after 28th Feb:

Dayton Ohio
Columbus Ohio
Cincinnati Ohio
Indianapolis Indiana
Detroit Michigan

All work & costs will be covered by us. If you can book Matt onto your flight you'd be helping immensely! Please contact Julie ([email protected]) if you are flying that direction.

Matt's friend Julie went to visit him at school & this is what she said:
"We went to see Matt today =) He is doing so well!
He doesn't bite AT ALL anymore! He is totally fine with collars, leashes and harness! He is fine with being touched. He doesn't particularly like his front paws being rubbed (and I mean really rubbed, not just lightly touched) but all he does is a little growl. He is GREAT with other dogs too! He is good a walking on a leash and sitting =) Matt has such a great personality! He loves to run around and play but doesn't have huge amounts of energy that would make him difficult to care for. Matt is just perfect!"

Update: 19 Jan 2014
Matt is SO ready to go into a home. We discovered that the reason he was so head-shy was because of a raging ear infection. No wonder he didn't want anyone near his head. Poor Matt! Being at the school has enabled him to get some much-needed TLC & some health care too. He has thrived in school & is waiting for his turn to go into a warm home where he can get lots of cuddles. Matt would love a foster home, if not a forever home.
***Matt's schooling has been paid for until the 27th of January. We would love to get him into a home by the 27th as we do not have the funds to keep him in school indefinitely.***

Update: 3 Jan 2014
Happy New Year Matt! This handsome chap had some wonderful volunteers visit him at the school and they were so impressed with his progress.

Matt is doing great, he is much more relaxed and completely comfortable with being touched all over and putting his harness on.

Thank you Leonie & Jen for visiting him and for the lovely photos. He looks wonderful. :)

Update: 25 Nov 2013
For the last few weekends we have taken it in turns to go and visit the dogs at the school. Last weekend Julie made the trek to Namyangju & came back with so many positive things to say! It makes me so happy!

Today, I went to visit the training school and I have to say that Matt is doing so well! He is really friendly and loves attention. One of the biggest problems we have had with Matt was the sensitivity he seemed to have around his neck. It was impossible for us to walk him at the shelter. I am so happy to say that he seems to no longer be bothered at all! He happily wears a collar and no longer snaps when collars and harnesses are being put on him or taken off. He had an ear infection, but it has been treated and is clearing up too. He is good with other dogs, but does need a few minutes of 'getting to know you' time - so super hyper dogs aren't the easiest for him to be around. He is learning to walk on a harness too. It is a work in progress but he is coming along nicely. Matt is just so AMAZING! He is such a sweet, friendly dog!! And he is absolutely beautiful!!

Update: 6 Nov 2013
Matt is thriving at the training centre. Seriously. This dog has literally not seen the outside of a cage for YEARS because of his fear of collars. Please do yourselves a favour and look at the photos I've posted (in comments section) of him running (RUNNING!!) in a field of grass (GRASS!!) at the school. Can you see the joy on his face? I can! I swear I'm not imagining it. YAAAAAAAAAYYYY MAATTTT!!!

Thank you Leonie and Jenn, for raising the bucks to send him to school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3

Health Update:
The dog school vet will give Matt a full health check once he has settled in and become more comfortable with them. Right now, they can tell that he has an ear infection but are unable to treat it just yet. They will do a heartworm test and all the rest, as well as ear treatment, as soon as possible.

Update: 29 Oct 2013
The wonderful people of the ARK community saw my plea and jumped in to help. Thank you so much!! Together, these awesome ladies raised enough funds to send Matt to doggy school and to have a health check. Thank you for taking the time and effort to do this. You know I appreciate it and we know that Matt can count his lucky stars. I can't wait to see him learn to trust and to get better just be HAPPY!!

Update: Oct 2013
Matt is in a desperate situation. Being terrified of collars and harnesses for as long as I've known him...he is now living his life on a chain while the shelter is being moved from one location to another. I can only imagine what torture this must be for him...having a collar on and being chained when this was his one true fear. I wish someone would open their home to him. Allow him to trust them. Allow him to just "be" in their house while he realizes that there's more to life than this. He's been at the shelter for at least 2 years. I've noticed a change in his face from when I first met him as he grows older. His muzzle is getting lighter. He deserves to be loved. Things are not in his favour in Korea: a larger sized dog, one with "issues"...please take a chance on him! Someone has to. I guarantee it will be worth it.

Update: June 2013
Despite being lonely up on the hill, Matt is still in good cheer. Some very dedicated volunteers paid him a visit this past weekend and Matt got a dose of heartworm prevention for these risky warm months. He is still not quite ready to be walked on a leash, but has been making great strides; allowing volunteers to lay the leash on his back and pet him with it wrapped around their hands. As great as this is, Matt's progress could go SO MUCH FASTER in a foster/forever home. He is such a sweet dog and just needs a patient friend to help him overcome his fear of leashes and harnesses.

Update: April 9th, 2013
With so many new faces at Asan Shelter, it's almost too easy to overlook some of the more veteran dogs. Matt has been at the shelter for over a year and all that potential love and devotion is wasting away in a cage on the hill. Please come spend some time with this beautiful boy and see what you're missing!

Update: March 10th, 2013
The weather is finally starting to warm up and Matt has made it through another rough winter. He's so happy to see visitors and is more than willing to take some of those treats off your hands. Come see this beautiful boy for yourself.

Update: February 5th, 2013
There is no doubt that this boy is a looker. He loves having volunteers come to visit his pen and is more than happy to be pet, coddled, and scratched. We're still working on getting him comfortable around a leash/harness. He doesn't mind sniffing it and having it around his back. We'll keep working on petting him with it around his front legs and hopefully one day soon, this boy will get to go on a long overdue walk!
There is no doubt that with some real training and love, he could be your best friend. Despite being a bigger dog, he is pretty calm and would rather sit close getting pet than jumping around (unless he sees you have treats). Matt has been at the shelter for too long. He needs a second chance BADLY! Please come spend sometime with him!

Update: January 6th, 2013
Yesterday, I got to spend some time with Matt up on the hill. He did a great job, letting me pet him all over his body and especially enjoyed the butt rubs. I also brought a lead with me to help him get more comfortable. He reacted well as I pet him using the lead. Sometimes, he seemed a little playful and hopped around to avoid touching it, but was still wagging his tail. He didn't show any fear-based aggression at all. I'm going to continue working with him and hopefully, in the near future, Matt will finally be able to go on a nice walk outside of his cage.

Update: December 30th, 2012
Poor Matt had to spend Christmas at the shelter. Luckily Allison was able to give him some lovin' on Saturday. Won't you give this sweet, shy boy a home?

.be

As mentioned before, Matt is still very scared of the idea of wearing a harness and being touched around his forelegs. However, he is very friendly with visitors who come into his pen and allowed me to scratch him around his shoulders (as well as his favorite spot on his back) on the last shelter trip. I'll continue working with him as much as possible, but once a week at the shelter just isn't the same as a safe environment in a loving home. :/

Update: November 16th, 2012

Matt is such a sweet dog. I'm amazed someone hasn't fallen in love with this golden boy (literally). I visited him last weekend and he fully embraced all the back and bum scratching I could give him! He even thanked me with a kiss! As you can see from his latest picture, his hair has been growing back nicely, but it's still so cold there! Could you give Matt a warm home? Please consider this awesome guy!

Handsome Matt needs a home!

UPDATE: Sept. 22, 2012
Matt got a haircut this weekend and is looking so much more comfortable!!
Huge thanks to the wonderful ladies who took on this daunting task and made Matt's life so much better!
Check out the pictures and comments below for the full story.

Sept. 2012
Matt is still patiently waiting for his forever home, and he'd really love to meet you!
The right person or people for Matt should be experienced in working with certain fear issues, as Matt seems to be extremely nervous of wearing collars and will need some help working through that issue.
If you are interested in meeting Matt, please email me as soon as you can. He has spent way too much of his life in a shelter, and it's time for him to go home!

UPDATE:
Matt received heartworm prevention today and was very happy to have some visitors and some wet food!
He is a very nice dog and will be a great companion for a lucky adopter!

Aug. 2012
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to spend much time with Matt lately, but during the couple of brief visits we've had over the past few weeks, he has seemed happy and healthy. This dog is a hidden gem, and all he needs is for a dedicated treasure hunter to find him, dig him up and brush him off (especially that last one!)
If you are interested in visitng Matt, and possibly fostering or adopting him, please contact us right away!

UPDATE: July, 2012
Matt recently received a healthy dose of Heartworm Preventative donated to the shelter by some very generous volunteers! He was super excited to see all the volunteers last weekend, and even more excited to eat the special canned food in which the medication was hidden! Why don't you give Matt a visit sometime? He will be so happy to see you!

June, 2012:
I've been able to spend some time with Matt these last couple of weeks, and have learned some interesting things about him!
First of all, he seems to be very smart, and is always watching the goings on around his pen with great interest. He can seem a bit intimidating at first when he hits you with his piercing gaze, but he is quite welcoming of any visitors who should venture into his pen.

Inside his enclosure, Matt is a sweetheart, prancing around you and imploring you for pats and treats. He will follow you closely around his pen, happy to lean his whole body into any pets or scratches you offer him and watchful for any opportunity he may have to rest his handsome head on your lap. Outside of his enclosure, on the other hand, remains to be seen, as Matt has a serious aversion (possibly bordering on phobia) to wearing a collar. I have tried on three separate occasions to get a collar on him and have failed every time. This is extremely unfortunate, both because it means he never gets to stretch his legs, and also because it's more difficult to get to know his personality just within the confines of his pen.

What I do know about Matt is that he is a very intelligent and affectionate gentleman who needs someone to help him jump a few hurdles. His foster or adoptive family should have some experience working with fear issues so that he can be properly coached through this situation. If you think you might be able to help this much deserving individual, please contact us today!

MATT:
In the Fall of last year, during my first visit to Asan shelter, I noticed this extremely handsome honey-coloured chap in his enclosure on the hill. Unfortunately for me, I didn't take the time to formally meet him until early Spring, 2012, and only then did I begin to learn what I had been missing out on!

Matt has very intelligent and expressive eyes that silently yet hopefully follow volunteers and shelter workers, beseeching a few pats and some kind words as though that's the most he could ever hope to get out of life. He is quite friendly in a subdued and controlled manner, and although he seems to genuinely love interacting with people, he does not command attention as some other, more gregarious individuals would.

My visit with Matt was relatively brief, but long enough for me to see his sweet and affectionate temperament. He followed me very closely as I wandered around his enclosure, and even rested his head on my knee when he caught me resting for a moment. Unfortunately, he absolutely did not want to have anything to do with the collar I was trying to put on him for a walk, so I didn't get to see his behaviour outside of his pen.

His long fur is extremely matted toward his backend, which is creating a wondrous habitat for all kinds of unsightly and off-putting clingons, and I wonder if this is one of the reasons why Matt has been over-looked by potential foster parents in the past. Once a person rummages through the tangles and gnarls on the surface, there is an undeniably delightful animal who is simply asking for the basics in life, the most important of which being companionship.

Since that first meeting with Matt a few months ago, I have only been able to visit him two or three times. Each time, Matt has been the perfect gentleman, welcoming me into his living space with his quiet joy and obvious affection. Please consider fostering or adopting this gentle soul!