Texas Shelter Staff Finds Dog Tied To Their Gate And Are Stunned When They Learn Who He Is
Dogs slipping away happens more often than people realize. All it takes is a gate left ajar, a busted fence, or a startling noise, and even the most well-behaved dog can take off in a heartbeat.
Some make it back home fast. Others? They just seem to disappear. But every now and then, something incredible happens when all hopes are gone.
That’s what happened when two dogs suddenly appeared outside a Texas shelter. One of them brought a twist no one expected. Let me tell you all about it!
One morning, the team at Austin Pets Alive! found an unexpected sight waiting at the gate: two little dogs tied up right outside.
One was a chunky little bulldog, and the other, a tiny Chihuahua wrapped snug in a coat. They were huddled together on a blanket, a few toys beside them.
No note. No reason why. Just left there, alone.
The team had witnessed scenes like this many times before. But no matter how many times it happened, it never got easier.
They gathered up the two pups, brought them inside, and started making sure they were warm, safe, and looked over from head to toe. Then they grabbed the scanner.
And that’s when everything took a turn.
Turns out, the bulldog had a microchip. Actually, two of them. And hidden in those numbers was a surprise no one saw coming. His name was Rome.
Four years earlier, Rome had gone missing from a family’s yard in Perris, California.
It was a stormy, windy day, and they’d let him out to use the bathroom in their fenced yard. They had no idea the wind would swing the gate open, and in a flash, Rome was gone.
They did everything they could: put up flyers, went door to door, and kept searching long after most people would’ve given up. As the weeks turned into months, and months into years, they still held onto hope.
But deep down, a part of them started to wonder if they’d ever see him again.
Then one day, the phone rang. Rome had been found. And not just a few towns over. He was in Texas, more than 1,000 miles from home. It felt impossible.
Their hearts were pounding, tears were already falling, and they immediately jumped in the car and headed straight to Texas to see their beloved pup.
As they arrived at the shelter, the nerves crept in. Rome had been just a little guy when he disappeared. and they started wondering if he would recognize them.
But the second Rome stepped into the room, it was like no time had passed at all.
The moment Rome saw his dad, he lit up and made a straight dash for him. He snuggled right in, like he’d been holding onto that moment for years.
His mom couldn’t hold back the tears when she saw how big he’d gotten. But even though so much had changed, one thing stayed the same: Rome’s love for his people.
The reunion was so heartwarming. There were happy tears, hugs that didn’t want to end, and a feeling so strong, no one needed to say a word.
Rome was finally heading home to the family that had never stopped loving him, not even for a moment. And the team at APA! got to be there to see it all unfold, right in front of their eyes, sharing in a Facebook post:
“Today, Rome is finally back with the family that never stopped loving him, and he’s on his way back to California to start his next chapter – right where he belongs!”
And just like that, a missing piece in one family’s heart was finally put back in place.
