The Washington County Animal Shelter received a call in early April: a stray dog named Blue had arrived at a stranger’s house, looking for a safe place to rest.According to thepetneeds, an animal control officer rushed over to pick up the pit bull mix and bring him back to the shelter.Nobody knew how long Blue had been on the streets, but the homeless dog seemed to adore everyone he met.
“He was a happy-go-lucky dog,” Tammy Davis, executive director of the shelter, told The Dodo.”At first, he was a little shy, and he didn’t like having all the other dogs around him, but he was extremely affectionate to people and very loving to the staff.”
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shelter had to close its doors to the public and only accept appointments.Blue sat in his kennel for months because there was less foot traffic, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The shelter used Facebook to introduce Blue to some potential adopters by posting a video of Blue playing with his favorite toy.A few moments later, someone commented on the video, “That’s my dog.”
Blue had been missing from his Tennessee home for six months.His father searched tirelessly for him but was eventually forced to relocate to Texas for work.He thought he’d never see his dog again until a friend sent him a Facebook video of Blue.
All that remained was to determine whether the man claiming to be Blue’s owner was telling the truth: “Blue’s favorite toy in the shelter was a blue squeaky ball, and he was playing with that ball in our video,”Davis explained.”When we started talking to the owner, he said, ‘Yes, I have pictures of my dog.’He sent us photos of Blue at home with the same blue ball, which was his favorite toy.It was insane.”
Blue’s father drove 1,200 miles to find his son, and the reunion exceeded their expectations.”It was clear that the dog had a connection with that person,” Davis said.”Blue was stunned for a split second, as if to ask himself, ‘Am I believing my eyes?’”
And then it was just kisses, and the man was crying, it was fantastic.”Blue is now back with his father, and the two are embarking on a new life in Texas full of love, snuggles, and squeaky balls.
“We wish every animal could have such a happy ending,” Davis said.”Having moments like this makes all of our hard work worthwhile.”
You can see the touching reunion here: