It’s been three years since the Koster family lost their beloved dog Maddie, and they kept refusing to get another dog. They didn’t want to feel like they were replacing Maddie, and they still had hope she was out there. Maddie went missing only days before Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017. Rachel Koster did everything she could to search for the dog during that time, but it wasn’t easy. Eventually, she began to fear the worst, but tried to stay positive.
Then, over three years later, a miracle happened. Maddie is now safe and sound, feeling more alive than ever.
A Tragic Loss
Maddie the Schnauzer mix disappeared three years ago when the Koster family moved to a new home. It happened to be three days before Hurricane Harvey, so the timing wasn’t ideal. But of course, the family immediately searched for the missing dog.
“We had a friend here to help me unpack and we think she went out with my friend because we looked for her after that point and couldn’t find her,” Koster said.
The family searched for months with no luck. At that point, Koster felt defeated. She wanted to keep hoping, but it got harder as the days went on.
But then, Koster’s mom called her with some life-changing information. She said that someone knew where Maddie was. At first, the family was cautious, worrying that it might be a scam. But then, they realized that their dog was still alive for sure.
Bringing Maddie Home
Gayle Tebon, a volunteer with Forgotten Pet Advocates, found Maddie in Sugar Land, Texas. The little dog was in the busy streets, so Tebon pulled over and picked her up. She brought Maddie to the vet, where they found out that the pup had a microchip, but it didn’t have the family’s current information.
But Tebon didn’t stop there. She was determined to reunite Maddie with her family because she knew someone was probably worried about the sweet dog. She posted Maddie’s photo on Facebook and reached out to Marilyn Litt with Lost Dogs of Texas.
“We have agreements with all the microchip companies that they will disclose to us personal information, which is ordinarily kept private,” said Litt.
Sure enough, Lost Dogs of Texas was able to get into contact with Koster. Koster was beyond grateful for the effort these volunteers made to help Maddie get home. She could never thank them enough.
Maddie still has the same personality as if no time has passed. Koster says they’re spending lots of time playing with her to make up for lost time. Lost Dogs of Texas reminds dog parents that updating microchip information is the easiest way to help a lost dog find their way home.
H/T: click2houston.com
Featured Image: @KPRC2ReChelle/Facebook
Toledo, United States.
