For Minnie and her owner, reuniting against all odds was the happily ever after that they both needed and deserved.
On October 29, the Humane Society of Greater Niagra shares the heartwarming story of how one of their dogs was readopted by her previous owner, who was diagnosed with cancer in October 2022 and is now in remission.
“Minnie’s owner was diagnosed with cancer, and right by his side was Minnie, his loyal protector,” the animal shelter wrote.
They shared that Minnie never left her owner’s side even when he couldn’t leave his bed for more than 30 hours during his cancer treatment.
The Humane Society of Greater Niagra wrote, “She was his constant; his source of comfort in the hardest days.”
But while Minnie never left her owner’s side, his owner knew that his sweet best friend deserved the very best life, and it was sadly something he could no longer provide her.
“As the treatments progressed, his health worsened, and he had to make a heart-wrenching decision—to find someone who could care for her when he no longer could,” the animal shelter wrote.
So, on October 2022, Minnie came to the Humane Society of Greater Niagra through the shelter’s humanitarian boarding program. After a month, she was officially surrendered by her owner, whose health was quickly declining.
“Her owner selflessly agreed to surrender her, wanting Minnie to have a better life even if it meant breaking his own heart,” the shelter wrote. “For the first time since the day she was born, Minnie was separated from him.”
The heartbreak didn’t end there. The animal shelter reveals that even when Minnie’s owner surrendered her and was battling cancer, he carried Minnie’s dog tags in his wallet and visited the shelter to catch a glimpse of his pooch.
It was a heartbreaking journey for both parties. However, in August of this year, Minnie and her owner became proof that all good things come to those who wait.
The animal shelter reveals that Minnie’s owner got the news he had prayed and hoped for – he was in remission.
“His first thought? Minnie. He went to our website, clinging to the hope she was still here. When he saw her face staring back at him on the screen, tears filled his eyes,” the Humane Society of Greater Niagra wrote.
The animal shelter even shared that Minnie’s owner started preparing for his best friend’s readoption. He even moved into a new home with a big backyard to ensure Minnie only gets the best!
“After 750 days and a failed adoption, Minnie is back where she belongs. She has her dad, a forever home, and a special place in all our hearts,” the Humane Society of Greater Niagra shares.
The Humane Society of Greater Niagra also calls Minnie and her dad as “a love that never gave up.”
“We’ll miss her at HSGN, but knowing she’s finally home fills us with joy.”
The video of Minnie’s reunion with her owner was shared by We Rate Dogs and quickly became viral. And it has almost 600,000 likes and over 6 million views across We Rate Dogs’ social media accounts.
Online users couldn’t help but shed a tear over the emotional reunion. One user on X (previously Twitter) wrote, “This is heartbreaking and yet so heartwarming. So thankful this man is in remission and was able to adopt his dog back.”
“I think there must be onions in the air that are causing my eyes to well up. This is the most wonderful thing on the internet all year,” a Facebook user said.