About one year ago, Diesel the Lab and Pit Bull mix was reported stolen. He was dragged out of his South Carolina yard when his family wasn’t looking. Tiffaney Capell, his mom, put up fliers to help bring him home, but months went by with no luck. She began to lose hope of her dog returning, but her daughter, Elise, never gave up.
The little girl continuously prayed that their sweet dog would one day return home. Even when all hope seemed lost, Elise never stopped believing. As it turns out, it all paid off because her prayers were answered a year later.
Diesel’s Rescue
Cpl. Kristen Gregory with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a neglected dog in the area. When she found the reported dog in a yard, she didn’t know it was Diesel. However, it was clear that the dog was not well cared for. Gregory determined that the dog was in poor condition and had to be removed from the home.
Sumter Animal Control arrived at the scene and took Diesel into their custody. For about a month after the dog’s rescue, they continuously tried to contact the person who had neglected him. No one in the household ever responded to their calls. So, they decided it was time to put the dog up for adoption to find him a more loving home.
However, a volunteer with Saving Sumter’s Strays quickly realized that the dog looked familiar. She told animal control that she thought the dog was the same one in Capell’s lost dog photos. So, animal control compared the photos to the dog and came to the same conclusion. The dog was probably Diesel.
A Heartwarming Reunion
Capell was contacted right away to come identify the rescued dog. They reminded her that there was a chance that the dog wasn’t Diesel, but they suspected that he was. Capell and Elise came to the scene, trying not to get their hopes up too much.
Even before they arrived at the shelter, Elise told her mom that she had a feeling the dog was Diesel. Sure enough, when they arrived, the dog ran straight for the family with a wagging tail. He clearly recognized them right away. Elise was right, the rescued dog was Diesel!
“The sequence of events that had to align for this dog to find its [family] is astounding,” said Captain Misty Lee with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers are still trying to contact the person who is responsible for neglecting Diesel. They stated that charges are forthcoming. While the person responsible deserves to be punished for their actions, it’s still incredible that Diesel was able to find his way home. Capell said that her daughter taught the whole family a valuable lesson about never losing hope.
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H/T: abccolumbia.com
Featured Image: Tiffaney Cappell Facebook
Toledo, United States.
