A Rescue That Took Longer Than Expected
When a Michigan shelter received information about two dogs being dumped by their cruel owners in the middle of nowhere, they immediately knew what to do. They grabbed their gear, assembled a team, and headed out to the location. Because they conduct such rescue missions all the time, the shelter staff thought this would be a straightforward rescue. Little did they know, it would actually last a couple of days.
Patience Is Key
After finally finding the pups, the Michigan rescuers managed to catch the female pup, Nutmeg, with little to no effort. But her brother, Barney, proved to be much more difficult.
For five days, the rescuers did everything they could to locate and catch Barney. They had search parties following his whereabouts, set up multiple traps, and even spied on him through the cameras of local houses. But nothing worked.
During these five days, Nutmeg was safe and sound in the shelter’s facilities, but she was not doing well. She was so heartbroken and depressed that she barely lifted her head, let alone moved around.
“She laid in the corner of her kennel, not moving, or barely picking her head up. Her whole body flinched when you touched her, and she would pee or poop if you had to handle her—it was heartbreaking,” said Jordan Covington from The KG Foundation.
Seeing her in this state motivated the rescuers to reunite the pups as soon as possible. And that’s exactly what happened.
A Sweet Reunion
After learning that Barney had traveled miles on his own, moving even closer to the shelter, the rescuers realized it was the perfect opportunity to set up a trap. And they were right!
Finally, Barney was caught and transported to his sister. But when the two initially met, Nutmeg was confused and didn’t recognize him. Luckily, that moment of hesitation didn’t last long.
“When she first saw Barney again, she was scared and pooped everywhere being carried into a new room. She growled at first, but as soon as she realized it was ‘him,’ she turned into a different dog. She was walking around him, licking him, wagging her tail, and even grabbed a bag of treats off the table. It was the first time any of us had ever seen her do ‘real dog things,’” Covington recalled.
Despite their adorable reunion, the pups still had a long road ahead.
A Long Journey Toward Healing
Barney was diagnosed with heartworm disease and will need to undergo intensive treatment to recover. Meanwhile, Nutmeg remains shy and reserved, struggling to trust humans again.
Even with these challenges, the Michigan shelter is doing everything it can to provide these sweet siblings with the life they truly deserve.
“To be transparent with the state of the world and the crisis that animal welfare is in, we know placing them won’t be easy. But it will be worth it. The love they have to give is so unconditional and pure,” Covington said.
For now, Barney and Nutmeg are available for foster or foster-to-adoption situations. They still have a long way to go, needing patience and love before they can fully settle into a home.
If you are able to offer a helping hand and open your home to two incredible pups, feel free to contact The KG Foundation for more information.
This sweet pup refused to give up on finding his sister, and his determination will melt your heart. ❤️
@kg_foundation
♬ All That Really Matters – ILLENIUM & Teddy Swims
If this touching reunion made you smile, stay for another heartwarming rescue story below. ❤️
