Guest Blogger: Julia S.

This was my dog, Rusty.

In November 2010, I was in Florida with my mom when my dad took Rusty to the Indiana County Animal Shelter and didn’t tell me for almost a week. I visited him twice. Being a minor at the time, I couldn’t save him.

Almost 4 years later, after endlessly searching Petfinder, I put an ad in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette saying that I lost my dog and that I knew he had been adopted from Animal Friends (thanks to Petfinder). 

Animal Friends called me and in two weeks it was confirmed that we knew where Rusty was! I was put in touch with his new mommy, Barb, and we decided to meet.

1,317 days after he was given away and 1,303 days since I last laid eyes on him, I got to meet him again. Rusty was always super hyper when he met new people. But when I fell on my knees after seeing him, he came up to me, sat down, and gently kissed my nose. He knew my voice. We all had a great day together. 

I just want to say thank you for helping me become a part of his life again. Rusty (now Quincy) means everything to me and I can never thank you and his new family enough.