Shelter Dog Joyfully Reunited With Owner After Patch Article

PECONIC, NY — It was the most beautiful of reunions recently after a shelter dog was reunited with her owner after a post on Patch brought them back together.

Last month, a Patch post about senior shelter dogs crying after losing their families touched hearts.

Donny Oliver, Sox' owner, explained how he found his way back to his four-footed friend. A friend's dog had puppies around Thanksgiving in 2009, he said. "He couldn't take care of them so a few of us went over to get them and bring them to the shelter," he said. "When I carried Sox, she curled up in my arms so I put her in my car. As soon as I got in the car she curled up in my lap. I brought her home instead."

His children, he said, grew up with Sox. "They would play on her, lay on her, pull on her, and she would just roll over and let them."

However, Sox was a dog that got stressed easily, and was always a wanderer, he said.

One night, he said, she ran away.

Oliver said since the say he found out she'd run off, he checked the North Fork Animal Welfare League's page to see if she'd been found, and never saw her.

Then, he said, "I was forwarded a post from Patch and cried. We were in the process of getting a house so once we moved in and got settled, I came and got her. Our dogs are our children — as it should be," he said. "Sox has been through enough the last few years. She deserves to live out her years loved by family. My boys will be here next weekend and I can't wait to see their reactions!
I cannot say enough about the NFAWL. They loved and treated Sox the way pets should be treated — above and beyond. Such an amazing group of people there. I can't express my gratitude enough.
My fiancé and I are so happy to have my puppy here. And Sox is just living it up."