Watch the emotional video below.
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An animal showing its happiness and gratitude is a sight that will always melt the heart and the moment a rescue dog met its new parents for the first time after being rescued from a Korean “high kill” shelter was no different.
Twenty-five-year old Shelly Miller, a clinical researcher, discovered Bunny’s Buddies rescue group online and that’s how she found out about Butters, a roughly two-year-old golden retriever that had been rescued from a high kill shelter in Korea. Shelly just had to adopt Butters after learning about his story and the process was set in motion for the pooch to meet his new parents.
Shelly and Jacob Bohr, her partner, had to wait for two weeks before Butters could finally be sent on the 15-hour flight from Korea to Chicago.
Upon the dog’s arrival, Shelly was so excited that she immediately untied his crate. And Butters seemed to recognize the significance of the moment because he was just there on Shelly’s feet wagging his tail and just happy at finally being safe.
Shelly, who is from West Branch, Iowa, said: “Finally getting to meet Butters was very, very emotional – I cried, smiled, laughed and my boyfriend did as well.
“When we first met Butters, he just dropped to my feet and wagged his tail like he knew we were taking him home.
“He had two adoptions fall through before, so it was as though he finally felt safe and that he had found his forever home.
“It was an unreal experience, to say the least.
“Now, he’s flourishing at home and getting on really well with my other golden retriever, five-year-old Lily.
“He doesn’t have any training, so we’re working on basic commands and potty training right now.
“But he’s the sweetest, most loving boy and seems to be settling in really well – he loves to nap on the couch and he’s been obsessed with his new toys.”
Butters has a bright future ahead of him, a far cry from a sad fate at the kill shelter if not for Bunny’s Buddies and Shelly. A “high kill” shelter places a time limit for an animal to be adopted and once past that deadline, the animal is euthanized to make space for incoming animals.
She said: “We believe he was a street dog that was abused and starved – he only weighed 55 pounds when we got him, and he should have been 80.
“He was also positive, which is very common in these dogs due to the climate and lack of treatment for these diseases.
“I personally think he endured abuse based on his reactions to certain things since we got him, but that’s just a guess – there’s no way to know for sure exactly everything they go through.
“But all that matters is that he is safe now and we will do anything we can to give him the best life possible.
“To be able to save a dog is a great feeling, and it’s definitely something that more people should be looking into especially as there are every breed and personality available to save.”