A rescue dog’s owner has made a statement online in the hope that it will reach the person who once abandoned the pet.
Four-year-old Elko—a Jack Russell, Chihuahua and wiener mix—is not only an internet sensation, but he also travels around the world with his doting owners, William Atek, 28, and Heather Borngesser, 31.
Newsweek discussed the clip, captioned: “To the heartless person who taped me in a box and threw me in the street. I finally have the beautiful life I deserve. I travel the world!!” with Atek from Royal Oak, Michigan.
He said: “I felt heartbroken when I heard Elko’s story—imagining Elko, our best friend, in a sealed box with no way out on 4th of July weekend. I’m so happy we can offer him a second chance at life. He’s such an inspiration, and his journey has made me even more passionate about helping other stray and abandoned dogs.”
William Atek, 28, and Heather Borngesser, 31, holding Elko. The traveling trio’s adventures have captivated the internet.
TikTok/@awayonearth
The footage, shared to @awayonearth on March 7, earned over 526,000 views. It shows Elko drinking purified water at the airport, fine dining in Austria, sitting outside the Louvre museum in Paris and hiking in the Swiss Alps.
The couple adopted Elko in September 2021 in Los Angeles. He has now visited 20 countries, including many in Europe, Thailand and Canada.
Elko when he was adopted from the shelter wearing a cast on one of his legs.
William Atek
Atek told Newsweek: “When he was first rescued, he was very shy and timid around everybody, but since then, he has opened up and shown his full personality.
“For a small dog, he has a big personality, and he’s a picky eater, preferring his dog food from Italy now. He is super relaxed on travel days, and when we pull out his travel bag, he gets super excited and jumps right in!”
His life couldn’t be more different from what it was in the shelter. Atek added: “We have trekked through Rose Valley in Turkey, climbed the steps to Big Buddha in Thailand, hiked Mt. Pilatus in the Swiss Alps.
“Played fetch in the mountains of Austria, had dinner in Lake Como in Italy (they even had a dog menu for Elko!), visited Paris during the Summer Olympics, and road-tripped through every corner of Albania.”
The couple’s efforts to spoil Elko with love and adventures don’t go unnoticed.
One user said: “Thank you for giving this sweet baby the life they deserve.”
“The best thing is seeing abused animals get the families they deserve. May this love find all doggies, and may you both live long, happy lives,” said another user.
A third chimed in: “Bet he’s living better than the ‘person’ that dumped him. God bless you and your fur baby.”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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