It’s always heartbreaking when a dog goes missing. You worry sick over them, wondering if they’re okay or if you’ll ever see them again. It’s even worse when they’ve been stolen, which can make you fear for their safety even more.
And it’s even worse when that dog is a service dog. Many people rely on their companion pets for their health and wellbeing, and when they’re gone it can turn their whole world upside down.
That was the case for one man, who lost his beloved service pet after his car was stolen with the dog still inside. But thankfully, this story has a happy ending, after a humane society helped reunite the pair.
Aaron Morris, of Waynesville, North Carolina, struggles with his mental health, but gets by with the help of his service dog, a Lab/pitbull mix named Jolene.
But he was left distraught last week when a robbery took Jolene away from him.
Aaron went to a Haywood County gas station on Friday, with Jolene along for the ride. According to WLOS, he stepped out to enter the gas station and left the car running to keep the dog cool.
But while he was out, a carjacker stole his vehicle — with Jolene still inside.
Aaron was devastated. His loyal service dog was gone, along with many of his other possessions like his phone and his meds.
His family said he began to spiral without his dog, refusing to eat because he didn’t know if Jolene was eating: “I’ll eat when she comes home,” he said in an emotional phone conversation with his sister Ashley Adevai.
“It’s life and death for my brother, he’s talking not normal,” Ashley told WLOS. “I’m very worried about him if the dog does not come back.”
A search began to find Jolene. Her story was shared by the local news and on social media.
Then, miraculously, they had a breakthrough, after a stray was found on the side of the road and taken tot he Morristown Hamblen Humane Society in Morristown, Tennessee.
The stray turned out to be Jolene. And when they finally got in touch with Aaron, it set the stage for a beautiful reunion.
“The reason we couldn’t reach the owner at the number on the tag was because his phone was also in the car,” the Humane Society wrote on Facebook. “Thank you to the people who shared our post her owner was notified and they have been reunited!”
“Such a happy ending!”
Aaron was thrilled to finally be getting Jolene back, and was so relieved to know she as safe and sound at last.
“Dear God. Thank you again for answering mine and so many others prayers,” he wrote on Facebook. “Thank you for guiding me thru I’m forever in debt to society and for ever thankful.”
There haven’t been any updates about the ongoing police search into the carjacker, but the important thing is that Jolene has been found safe.
A video shows their heartwarming reunion. Both the man and dog look thrilled to finally be back together:
We’re so glad Jolene is safe! A service dog can really make a huge difference in a person’s life, and we’re so happy these two best friends have each other once again.
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