Love Is for the Dogs

Aiko Hanamura is a divorce lawyer who keeps her personal life tightly managed, while Kai Shirosaki runs a neighborhood veterinary clinic and fills his days with caring for dogs and their owners. Their relationship starts with small, dog-centered encounters that grow into steady companionship as they help each other with work pressures and personal doubts. Complicating those quiet developments, Wu Seo-ha arrives from Korea with an unclear objective that pulls Kai into a larger, more public conflict. As friendships and romantic feelings shift, the series tracks how animals soften people, reveal vulnerabilities, and change the way characters prioritize love, loyalty, and future plans.

Released in 2025, the drama features Kaya Kiyohara, Ryo Narita, Na In-woo, Riku Hagiwara, and Emma Miyazawa in key roles. Specific director and episode count details weren't provided in the brief, so production credits may vary by region.

As of its initial run the show hasn't earned major awards or widespread industry nominations. It's early for prize season, so formal recognition may come later if the series gains more viewers and critical attention.

Early audience responses point to a growing online fanbase among dog lovers and romantics, with viewers sharing clips of on-screen pets and character moments. The program seems to be encouraging conversations about pet adoption and the small, everyday gestures that build trust between people, which has helped it find a modest cultural niche despite being new.

Critical and viewer reception looks steady but limited so far, with a 7.0 average from a small number of votes. Reviewers and viewers who responded appreciate the chemistry between leads and the contrast between courtroom and clinic life, noting themes of communication, healing after loss, and how caregiving reshapes priorities. The drama settles into a gentle tone, focusing on character growth through relationships with animals and with each other.