Advertisement Liesl Wilhardt, the founder and executive director of Luvable Dog Rescue in Eugene, Oregon, worked tirelessly to find Wacku an adoptive home after finding out about him through SPCA International. “They knew that I could offer Wacku a home with human and animal friends in an environment where he could be himself,” Wilhardt told PEOPLE. “When Wacku arrived, he was cautious but curious about everything. I’m sure it was a huge transition for him in every imaginable way. A different climate, different people, different natural environment, different language, different animals around him … but he is also incredibly smart,” she added. “He figured out quickly that life was pretty good here! Different but good!”