Trending
Family went to a cat adoption event – then they see their lost dog waiting there
They thought they'd never see their furry friend again
Khadija Bilal
11.22.19

One of the most difficult challenges any pet owner can ever have to face is losing their furry friend. Accidents happen, with dogs, cats, and other animals sometimes running away from home and never coming back. This leaves the owners in a state of hopeless panic, always worrying about their pet, stressing about what might have happened to them, and eventually having to accept that they’ll probably never see them again.

This is what happened to a Florida family after their brown and white dog, Dopey, went missing back in August of this year.

The family hoped and prayed to see Dopey again, but they knew their chances were slim.

In early November, the family heard about a local cat adoption event in Jacksonville, not far from their home, and they decided the time might be right to bring a new furry face into the family.

They attended the event, but were astonished to see someone they knew very well: Dopey!

The father of the family spotted Dopey having a leash put on him, ready to go for a walk. “That’s my Dopey!” he yelled out, and the dog, recognizing its owner’s voice, immediately ran over to greet him happily.

View this post on Instagram

🧑 November 9th is officially Generosity Breeds Joy Day in Jacksonville and this story is one for the books. πŸ’šThis sweet family was in line to adopt a kitten at our PetSmart (356 Monument Rd, Jacksonville, FL) event this morning when the father spotted a brown and white dog being leashed up to go for a walk. "That's my Dopey!" he shouted. The dog heard his voice and ran over to the family – it was HIS family! He lept into their arms and starting covering them with kisses. Dopey, who came to JHS as a stray on October 1st, had gone missing in August. His family never lost hope and they are thrilled that their sweet pup is back home! Stories like Dopey's, the many we tell and the many untold, are proof that generosity breeds joy in Jacksonville every day. From the strangers who helped Dopey when he was lost to the volunteers and staff who lovingly cared for him, from the donors who made his reunion possible to foundations like PetSmart Charities for sponsoring the event that brought this family back together … generosity and joy are all around us! Learn more about ways to share generosity and joy on our website: jaxhumane.org #generositybreedsjoy #picme #jaxhumane #dogsofinstagram #petsmart #petsmartcharities #ilovejax #reunion #reunited #family #love #adoptdontshop #onlyinduval #whatsgoodjax

A post shared by Jacksonville Humane Society (@jaxhumane) on

Soon, the whole family was there, cuddling and petting the dog they thought they’d lost forever. It turned out that Dopey had been rescued by the Jacksonville Humane Society. He was believed to be a stray and didn’t have a microchip, so there was no way of getting in contact with his owners.

Fortunately, fate had a happy ending in store for everyone and the family reunited with their lovely dog. Dopey was back where he belonged, getting all the love and care of the people who knew him best.

There are all kinds of bad things that could have happened to Dopey, and the chances of him finding his family again were so slim, but he made it in the end, thanks to the great work of the Jacksonville Humane Society and the donors who helped organize the adoption event in the first place.

View this post on Instagram

Calling all parents! πŸ‘‹ Want to enjoy a night out while your kids enjoy a night IN with the animals at JHS? 🐢🐱 Children in grades K-8 are invited to attend our Fall and Winter Pawjama Jams from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, and Saturday, December 14. Visit jaxhumane.org/kidscamp to register! Sibling discount available.β € β € We'll watch a PG movie πŸŽ₯, eat pizza πŸ• and a sweet treat 🍰, interact with dogs and cats, make a craft for the animals, and take a goodnight tour of the shelter. Kids' Night In spots sell out quickly, so we recommend registering early!β € β € #jaxhumane #generositybreedsjoy #jacksonvillefl #jacksonville #jaxbeach #jaxmoms #jacksonvillemoms #jaxkids #humaneeducation #pawjamajam #kidsnightin

A post shared by Jacksonville Humane Society (@jaxhumane) on

Amazingly, the society organized another reunion between a pet and its owners just a few days later at its ‘Feline Frenzy’ spay and neuter event. The cats involved had all been sedated, ready for their operations, and were then scanned to check if they had any microchips.

It was discovered that one kitten had been chipped and was successfully reunited with her owners, who had lost her a few months previously after she got out of the home and never came back.

View this post on Instagram

During this month of giving thanks, #JHSGivesThanks to all of our incredible adopters who found new furry family members at the Jacksonville Humane Society! So far in 2019, over 6,000 dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies have found homes thanks to YOU. We're so proud to be part of a compassionate community that's so enthusiastic about helping pets in need.β € β € Thank you for choosing to adopt!β € β € Want to find a new BFF of your own? Visit jaxhumane.org/adoptjaxpets to view all our available animals!β € β € #jaxhumane #adoptjaxpets #generositybreedsjoy #adoptdontshop #dogsofinstagram #catsofinstagram #shelterdogs #sheltercats #dogs #cats #jacksonville #jacksonvillefl #904 #igersjax #onlyinduval #thankful #grateful #thanksgiving

A post shared by Jacksonville Humane Society (@jaxhumane) on

These wonderful stories are simply amazing news for the pets and owners concerned, and they also serve as great reminders for all cat and dog owners to get their pets microchipped.

Even if you’re the most careful owner in the world, you never know what might happen in life. Cats and dogs get lost every single day, but chips help to get them home safely and quickly.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Advertisement