Krista Novak of Adams Township plays with Penny, a Vizsla she had been caring for until it left to return to its home in Washington state.

ADAMS TWP — Penny, a dog from the state of Washington, went back home this morning after inadvertently becoming involved in a cross-country trek ending at a township woman's home.

Krista Novak of Adams temporarily took care of the 7-month-old vizsla this week. Penny left to head back home this morning.

“She's a good girl,” Novak said.

However, Penny's trek was not the happiest.

Her owners, Kendra and Colt Brown, say that a truck driver took Penny on Dec. 19 from their Royal City, Wash., neighborhood. The couple tracked down the driver and found out that he dropped Penny off with another driver headed back toward Washington at a truck stop in Des Moines, Iowa.

The couple later discovered that the dog would not be traveling back home with the other driver.

Somehow, Novak said the dog ended up at Banfield Pet Hospital in the North Hills on Dec. 24.

The New Hope Vizsla Rescue Foundation, which Novak is involved with, contacted her asking if she would take Penny on until arrangements could be made to get her home.

Novak has had Penny since Sunday. She already owns a 4-year-old Vizsla.

“It's been great. I will cry when she leaves,” Novak said.

Penny was picked up this morning by representatives from the rescue foundation and driven to Washington D.C. There, she was to be put aboard an Alaska Airlines flight back to the state of Washington.

Novak said she was sad to see Penny go.

“We know she's going back to a good home,” Novak said.

The Browns have been asking for help and updating information on a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/Bringpennyhomeforchristmas. They said they were happy Penny will be coming home.

“We can't wait to get our little puppy back,” the couple said in a post.