A food delivery worker never imagined she’d fall in love with another dog so quickly after saying goodbye to her 14-year-old one in December 2021.
Weeks later, a timid little Shih-poo crossed her path, forever altering both of their lives.
The woman, who requested anonymity, told, “I see this scraggly dog racing across the road from behind the truck and in front of me.”
She parked immediately and went in search of the frightened dog.
She added, “Given how young he was and how recently my heart had been broken by the loss of my own fur baby, I did not want to chance to leave him to be hit by someone.”
The moment she reconnected with the small dog, they clicked.
She recalled, “When we caught eyes, I said, “Come here, buddy,” and he practically jumped into my arms. In that instant, it was almost as if he had been looking for me his entire life and had just found me.
The dog wasn’t microchipped, and the woman tried in vain to track down his owner. Despite having matted hair, the 3-year-old dog, whose she named Stitch, appeared to be in generally good health after a comprehensive vet examination.
“After spending a week with Stitch, and no leads to his owner, I cut his hair,” she said. “That was the moment I realized how much he resembled Lela. I had to stop grooming him as I burst into tears and just held him.”
Despite the similarity, Stitch had to put some effort into feeling secure.
“He was a little skittish and not sure how to play with toys,” she said. “Now, he absolutely loves to bring us his toys and play with us. He ended up turning into the most loveable dog in the world and brings so much joy to our lives.”
Though the woman still misses Lela, she’s grateful for the time they had together, as well as the second chance she’s getting with Stitch.
“I sit back and wonder if somehow, somewhere in this universe, it was Lela that made us cross paths at just the right time,” she said.
“The resemblance between the two is uncanny. He was in desperate need of love and proper care, and I was in desperate need of help in mending an incredibly broken heart.”
