📣 Introducing Kayla Stephenson, our new Projects Coordinator!
We are so excited that Kayla has joined the Pug Rescue of Korea team 🤩.
As a nonprofit rescue group with operations in two countries, we face different challenges than other groups-- such as the obstacles that come with shipping live animals across the globe.
Based in South Korea, Kayla will be assisting and spearheading various projects—a current one is establishing us as an official private organization with the US military to host events and fundraisers on post. She’s also handling tasks like shuttling our dogs to/from foster homes and the vet, corralling supplies, and fundraising.
Kayla brings balance and levity to our team as well as experience in managing databases, writing, and communications.
Reminder: All of us are volunteers. That means Pug Rescue of Korea pays out ZERO dollars in salaries, and your donations go to saving pugs 🤗.
Kayla also fosters for us—and was also a foster fail after adopting Bingy from us last year.
More on Kayla below, as well as our interview:
With a BA in English from Arcadia University, Kayla has worked in various fields, including Make a Wish, public libraries, and office administration. A fan of world travel, she is currently living in South Korea for several years and dedicating any free time to fostering, assisting, and writing for PRK. Kayla enjoys hikes with foster fail PRK alum Bingy, playing roller derby, and running too many D&D games. She has volunteered for animal rescues since she was 14 and loves having a house full of animals.
Where are you originally from?
We've both moved around most of our lives, but I'm from the Virginia Beach area, and my husband is West Virginia-born.
Galbi and Gimbop, August 2020
How did you get involved with Pug Rescue of Korea?
I saw a post from your previous foster coordinator, Mel Mort, on the local pages looking for fosterers. I think it was Galbi & Gimbap. After that, I looked into PRK and saw that you were an established non-profit with a wonderful history. By that, I mean I definitely creeped through pages and pages of pug pictures.
“Being able to help animals in any small way is worth it for me.”
What inspired you to want to foster?
I've worked with animal shelters since I was young. We knew we would be overseas here for a while, and I wanted to foster since I missed being around dogs like crazy (we'd both been in no-animal apartments for a while).
Ohmygah, gimme dat - Bingy
Do you have any pets of your own?
Currently, our foster fail, Bingy. I've had a beagle, a corgi/Boston Terrier mix, and all manner of little creatures. We hadn't intended on keeping any permanently because of the shipping worries, but we couldn't give her up. And by that I mean my husband fell in love and bullied me for months 😉.
What dogs have you fostered for PRK?
Just Bingy and Dozer so far! We plan on continuing to foster until we leave for the States. Both because I love fostering -- and so Bingy doesn't get only child syndrome, haha!
What do you like about fostering?
Being able to help animals in any small way is worth it for me. The best part is a few weeks (or months) in when you can see their personality emerge. Most dogs will be on extreme ends of one mood (hyper, depressed, etc) when they first get rescued, and to see their "actual" personality emerge is amazing. Bingy didn't make a peep for months, and hearing the first bark when she was playing was so startling and hilarious!
Bingy was a puppy mill rescue. The last two pictures are of her malnourished body nursing her pups in the mill
Tell us about any funny/fond foster experiences.
Bingy was spayed last summer, and we were warned to keep her as still as possible -- she probably wouldn't want to do anything anyway. The following day, she was trying to parkour up the stairs, off the couch, on the bed—mostly just bouncing her radar cone off everything. We had to turn the couch around to face the wall to keep her from jumping!
Dozer and Bingy
What would you tell someone who is considering being a foster parent?
If you're not sure about adopting a dog permanently or don't know what kind of dog is a good fit for you, I highly recommend fostering. Not only are you helping save a dog’s life, but you're able to test out how a dog might fit in your home. Just be prepared to be patient. Foster animals can go through wild mood swings, and even the most well-behaved dog can be highly stressed and act out at first. Patience, persistence, and a consistent schedule!
Anything else you'd like to share?
Even if you can't rescue or foster or donate, please spread awareness in your social circles of how important rescuing is. Even if you're not in a place to help personally, you can turn other people to volunteering or rescuing instead of purchasing dogs. Working as a volunteer for so long can make you lose faith, but there are just as many folks out there saving and loving these dogs!