A second chance for Coco the sassy corgi

Yin Wen Choi always knew she wanted a corgi, but she also hoped to adopt a rescue dog. Little did she know that those two wishes would come together in one particularly sassy package – Coco.

In June 2025, Choi and her partner Aaron Lau saw a Facebook adoption post about Coco whose previous owner reportedly gave her up after moving to a condominium with a no-pet policy.

Lau contacted the fosterer immediately, and what began as a spontaneous decision turned into a new chapter for the trio.

“It felt as though everything had fallen into place and Coco was meant to be ours,” Choi told FMT Lifestyle.

When the couple took the three-year-old to the vet on adoption day, they discovered she had kidney and gallbladder stones.

“The vet told us that the stones were quite large and might have developed over the course of a year. That meant she could have been suffering in silence for some time, because she was peeing blood,” shared Lau.

With proper treatment, Coco recovered from her health problems. However, as with many rescue dogs, adjusting to her new home was not always easy.

“When I first brought Coco home, she had mild separation anxiety. Whenever we weren’t around, she would whine, pant and walk around in circles,” Lau said.

Coco also struggled with reactivity towards other dogs during walks, sometimes barking loudly or excitedly lunging at them. Lau began training her, and while there are still occasional setbacks, he said Coco improved and is now composed about 90% of the time.

“Our neighbours knew her for her loud barking,” he said. “Now, each time we bring her to the park, she’s a better version of herself. It has taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears – literally, in some cases,” he laughed.

Unsurprisingly, Coco has grown closest to Lau. The couple said she has plenty of quirks and sass to keep them laughing.

“Corgis are known for their judgemental looks and signature side-eye, and Coco definitely has that expression,” Choi said. Lau added that Coco could maintain an intense stare for minutes when she wanted something, whether it was permission to leave her feeding cage or simply get their attention.

Her sassiness extends to mealtimes, too. Coco is a picky eater who detests drinking water, prompting Choi to add water or broth to her kibble. Sometimes, she even needs hand-feeding before agreeing to eat.

But her cheeky antics are not always so harmless. Although toilet-trained, she occasionally pees in a particular spot in the living room when left alone.

“When we return, she’ll either give us the most guilty-looking puppy eyes or hide in another room. She knows she’s done something wrong,” Lau said.

Coco has also brought the couple comfort and companionship. Choi created an Instagram account for her soon after the adoption, just to document her life and share her cuteness with others. “People often tell us Coco is lucky, but we’re lucky to have her too,” said Lau.

Choi added: “Coco has been a blessing to me. When I’m stressed after work, just seeing her can bring my stress levels down to zero. At the same time, I know that losing her one day will be my biggest heartbreak.”

Both hope Coco’s transformation will encourage others to consider adoption, even if they have their hearts set on a particular breed.

“Coco has reinforced my belief that you can adopt a dog regardless of its age,” said Lau.

Choi added: “Corgis are known to be stubborn, but Coco has shown us how much a dog can improve with time, patience and training. If she can make such progress, I’m sure many other dogs can too, regardless of their breed.”

Follow Coco on Instagram.

This article was written by Theevya Ragu @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathered friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.

Alternatively, drop us an email if you’d like your story featured and we’ll be in touch.

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.