Although it can be frustrating, a door left open can sometimes be the greatest enemy of a dog parent. Every year, many dogs go missing after they escape their homes through open doors. This lost dog nightmare became true for Kelly Shade in December 2019. The Chicago resident lost her dog after a visitor in her house left her door open.
At that time, Kelly was so busy that she was not keeping track what where her dog, Gracie, was. Only when she tried calling Gracie and the dog did not respond did it became apparent that there was a problem. At first, Kelly thought that the dog was sleeping upstairs, as was her habit, so she did not bother to check.
However, when Kelly went upstairs to check on Gracie, she could not find her. At that moment, she began to feel anxious, so Kelly looked for Gracie all over her place. When she could not find the dog, she went out on her porch and tried calling to get the dog’s attention.
Baffled about what had happened to her dog, Kelly reviewed the CCTV footage. It then became all too clear to Kelly that her dog had escaped out an open door. Although heartbroken, Kelly did not give up. She continued her search and even contacted the local police to report the incident.
A few days after, Kelly reluctantly came to terms that she might not see Gracie again. But at the back of Kelly’s mind, she was still hoping that someday she would reunite with the dog. She remembered stories she’d heard in the past of other dog owners happy experiences.
True enough, a year after the dog went missing, Kelly received a phone call about Gracie. When she heard that Gracie was in safe custody, she was ecstatic. Immediately she went to meet the person who called her.
Polly Ellison, a neighbor only two miles away, had spied Gracie months before. Realizing the lost dog must belong to someone, she had been feeding her, hoping to earn her trust. Finally she captured Gracie and identified her owner by the microchip
When Kelly met with Gracie’s rescuer, tears flowed freely as Gracie jumped and whirled happily. Kelly hugged her tightly at their reunion, the best Christmas present ever.
Story credit to ABC 7 Chicago. Image credit to Local 10 News
For another heartwarming rescue story: Two Men Stop Their Car To Help Save Mama Dog And Her Puppies From Freezing
