Cora didn’t have the easiest start in life. Used for breeding by her previous family, she spent nearly eight years bringing litter after litter into the world.
When she was no longer “useful,” they gave her away for free on Facebook — discarded, sick, and unfamiliar with what real love felt like.
That all changed when Madison Palm came into her life.
Initially planning just to foster Cora, Madison quickly realized she couldn’t part with the gentle, affectionate corgi. Cora’s resilient spirit and deep capacity for love made her impossible to let go.
Now, years later, Cora is thriving — and bringing healing to others, too.
“She’s a total lovebug,” Madison told The Dodo. “She has this gentle, kind energy that draws people in. If you stop petting her, she’ll nudge you for more. And if I’m not around, she’ll find the next closest lap to curl up in.”
Cora’s loving personality inspired Madison to have her trained as a therapy dog — a role that came naturally.
She loves greeting strangers wherever she goes, offering them her calm presence and wagging tail.
So during a layover in 2018 while traveling from Idaho to Alaska, Cora didn’t waste any time making new friends at the airport.
As Cora strolled around their waiting area, she stopped to say hello to several passersby. But one man caught her attention — and something told her he needed more than just a friendly sniff.
“She had been resting, so I let go of her leash for a moment,” Madison recalled. “The next thing I knew, she was quietly sitting at the feet of a man across from us, looking up at him gently as he began to pet her.”
At first, Madison was nervous the stranger might be bothered. But when she approached, he looked up with tearful eyes and shared a heartbreaking truth.
“He told me he had just lost his dog the night before,” she said. “Cora sat perfectly still as he scratched her ears and quietly whispered how cute she was. He even took out his phone to snap a picture of her, and she just stayed right there, calm and patient.”
It was as if Cora knew exactly who needed her.
Despite the neglect and pain she once endured, Cora has an extraordinary gift for compassion — a gift she now uses to comfort others in their moments of grief.
“She just knows,” Madison said. “I’ve seen it time and time again. For a dog who went unloved for over seven years, it’s incredible how much love she still has to give.”
To follow Cora’s heartwarming journey and see more of her adventures, visit her on Instagram.
