Claire Hughes, a devoted dog lover from Hamilton, Ontario, has a heartwarming story to share about her journey with her beloved canine companions. Hughes’s life changed when she adopted Dolly, an 11-year-old Catahoula leopard dog and beagle mix, from Fetch + Release, an organization dedicated to rehoming dogs in need. Little did she know that her story would take an even more touching turn when she reunited Dolly with her long-lost son, Cheddar.
Before finding her forever home with Claire, Dolly had given birth to a litter of six puppies. Over the years, all the puppies found their forever families, except for one: Cheddar. This young pup had ended up back in the rescue shelter, still in search of a loving family to call his own.
We adopted our dog’s son and it’s going very well!
byu/claireahhhhh inaww
When Claire Hughes learned about Cheddar’s ongoing quest for a family, she couldn’t ignore the opportunity to reunite mother and son. She recognized the profound difference that a loving home could make in a dog’s life. Hughes shared with Newsweek that having a “mother and child reunion makes it even more meaningful.”
Cheddar had spent seven years on a farm in Tennessee before making the journey to Canada in 2021. Unfortunately, he spent another two years waiting for a forever home at the rescue center. Hughes and her family decided to open their hearts and home to Cheddar, recognizing that their spacious backyard, work-from-home situation, and love for dogs made it the perfect environment for him.
Before officially adopting Cheddar, Hughes introduced him to Dolly to ensure they would get along. Their interaction was nothing short of heartwarming, with Dolly immediately bonding with her long-lost son. Hughes recalls, “In many ways, the deal was sealed right there. Our main decision factor was making sure they got along.”
In just over a week, Cheddar seamlessly settled into his new home and even formed a special friendship with Norman, the family cat. Hughes was overjoyed to witness the mother-son relationship between Dolly and Cheddar, especially when Cheddar rested his head on his mom’s shoulder to fall asleep. The connection between the two was undeniable.
What makes this reunion even more fascinating is the discovery that Cheddar shares some of the same quirks and habits as his mom. They both prefer to walk on rugs rather than hardwood floors, and Hughes humorously noted that they seem to “cheer each other on when they face their fears.”
To share the heartwarming story of Dolly and Cheddar’s reunion, Claire Hughes posted a picture of the two dogs on Reddit under the username u/claireahhhhh, titling it “We adopted our dog’s son, and it’s going very well.” The post quickly gained attention and has touched the hearts of many online, accumulating over 9,400 votes on Reddit.
We encourage everyone thinking of getting a pet to adopt instead of shop. Read more resources about adopting animals on One Green Planet, including 7 Reasons to Adopt Your Next Furry Best Friend, 5 Reasons Why Everyone Should Adopt a Pet, and These Heartwarming Before and After Pictures of Adopted Rescue Animals Will Make Your Day! Read tips for pet adoptions and what to consider before adopting an animal. We recommend using these apps to find shelter dogs near you!
Best Things In Life Are Rescued by Tiny Rescue: Animal Collection
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