A couple was about to give up hope during their month-long dog adoption process when social media led them to an animal rescue group focused on bringing dogs to the United States from South Korea. And now, their latest family addition is living her best life on her Nebraska ranch.
Elle Worley shared with Newsweek that she and her husband were unsure if they were ready for another dog. Their soul dog Willow passed in November 2023 and their other dog Copper became sick. He was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, which Worley said was due to stress caused by being separated from Willow.
But they ultimately decided another golden retriever would be a good companion for Copper and would be in honor of Willow. Then the frustrating adoption process began.
Worley said they didn’t get callbacks from applications, they lived too far from shelters, and they didn’t have the fencing that some places required for adoption.
“I had all but given up when I saw a beautiful Golden pop-up on my Facebook newsfeed,” Worley said. “It was a golden retriever rescue group that had shared a post of Penny.”
@elleplantnurse/TikTok
The couple saw the photo of Penny living at a kill shelter and they quickly applied to adopt her. As luck would have it, Penny became the latest addition to the Worley family in no time.
The process with The Barky Bunch Rescue was seamless and cheaper than buying a puppy, Worley said. The nonprofit did all the heavy lifting, which included getting the dogs to the United States. The couple then met with the volunteer who flew Penny from Seoul to Washington, D.C., and made the drive back to their ranch in Nebraska.
“While initially hesitant to interact with Copper, Penny gradually warmed up to him, and within three weeks, they became inseparable companions,” Worley said. “Witnessing their bond blossom and seeing Copper free from gastroenteritis symptoms brought immense relief and happiness to our hearts.”
Penny, who is believed to be around 4 or 5 years old, has endured so much in her short life, Worley explained. While in that South Korean kill shelter, she lost around 20 pounds and underwent entropion surgery on her eyelids before coming to the U.S.
The couple discovered a lump on her neck shortly after Penny’s arrival, which was diagnosed as a stage 1 mast cell tumor with clean margins. Worley said Penny underwent successful surgery and is now recovering well.
Despite what she has gone through, Penny has settled into her new life and the family couldn’t be more thrilled. Penny loves running freely on the ranch pastures, playing in the creek, and interacting with the other animals, Worley said.
“Seeing Penny embrace her newfound joy and zest for life fills our hearts with immense joy and gratitude,” Worley said. “She adores cuddling and showering us with gentle kisses continuously.”
A February 26 TikTok video, which was shared to the account @elleplantnurse, shows Penny enjoying her new life. From digging in the dirt and trotting around the yard, there is always a smile on her face.
Worley said they’ve been asked frequently whether or not Penny understands English. She knew her name before getting adopted—but has had to learn commands in English since. Surprisingly enough, Worley said Penny listens better than Copper who has known English his whole life!
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our “Pet of the Week” lineup.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.