Veteran Is Reunited With His Missing Dog After 22 Days

This heartwarming video shows the moment a dog is reunited with her loving owner after 22 days apart. The dog's reaction is simply beautiful. Her tail starts wagging and her eyes are locked on the walkway where we can hear somebody arriving. Sandy Girl, as she's called, can hear a familiar voice and she knows that her master is coming for her. She can't contain her excitement and she runs back and forth until Larry Peteet, Sandy Girl's owner reaches the gate and comes through. She alternates between licking Larry and jumping at him. We can only imagine what she had thought or if she believed that she would ever see him again. The moment when they are reunites, her world changes and her joy is obvious.Show more

Larry's joy is equally heart warming. He laughs with relief and if you listen to his voice as he speaks to her, and to the person recording at the animal shelter, he's fighting back the tears. Eventually he can't contain his emotions and he starts sobbing with relief. It is easy to sob along with him. As we watch this video, we can't help but wonder what led to this moment. Why were they separated for so long? It seems obvious that neither of them expected to ever find the other.

The story behind this video is as remarkable as the reunion. Larry is a veteran who suffers from PTSD and Sandy Girl is his emotional support dog. The two of them were in a car accident that sent Larry to the hospital where he spent three days in ICU. Police at the scene had left Sandy Girl in the care of a neighbour, but the neighbour needed to fly to California. Unable to care for the dog, they asked another dog owner at a local dog park to care for Sandy Girl. Larry's recovery was taking time, and in that time, Sandy Girl was lost among the confusion as the story got retold and she was passed from a person to a person.

Believing that Sandy was abandoned, somebody was caring for her and didn't know that Larry needed her back. Police tracked down some details but the trail was lost. Determined to find her, Larry put up posters and hired a pet detective, Jamie Katz from Fort Lauderdale. Katz' detective work paid off when word got around and Sandy's caregiver called to say that he had her with him. Katz told Larry and filmed the moment when they found each other.

Watching Larry's reaction, you can see his sincere love for his companion. She is more than just a pet. She is obviously his family. She's a beautiful dog who is providing him with love and support. It's hard not to cheer for any animal lover and their pet as they find each other again, but understanding the tragic circumstances that made them part, and the deeper meaning behind their relationship, we have even more reason to share Larry and Sandy's joy. The human-animal bond can be as deep and as powerful as any relationship. Larry and Sandy Girl deserved this happy ending as much as anyone!

Larry Peteet, thank you for your service. And thank you too, Sandy Girl, for looking after one of our veterans so well.