Woman Sees Her Lost Dog On A Beer Can 3 Years After She Went Missing
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
In March of 2019, a pit bull mix arrived as a stray at Manatee County Animal Services .
Shelter staffers could tell that the dog had once had a home, but her former owner seemingly vanished without a trace. There was no way to tell how far the dog had traveled or how long she'd been missing .
“She was microchipped so we were able to get the owner’s name — Monica Mathis,” Hans Wohlgefahrt, outreach and events specialist at the shelter, told The Dodo. “But we had no updated contact information. Everything we tried was a dead end.”
The shelter named the dog Day Day, but the volunteer favorite kept getting passed over by potential adopters.
“I always describe her as ‘a tank with a heart of gold,’” Wohlgefahrt said. “She loves attention, loves to be petted, loves to play with you, loves to roll around — she’s just super happy.”
With 150 dogs and 100 cats in the open-admission shelter at any given time, Day Day was getting lost in the crowd. She needed help, so the shelter nominated her as one of the spokesdogs for a campaign between the shelter and Motorworks Brewing . Motorworks released the Adoptable Dog Cruiser on January 19. The beer cans feature photos of four dogs from Manatee County Animal Services, with proceeds going to fund a new facility for the shelter.
The story of the unique collaboration quickly went viral, and two of the dogs immediately got adopted after the debut of the beer — but not Day Day.
Mathis was watching television in her home in Saint Paul, Minnesota, when she saw a photo of Day Day’s smiling face on a beer can. She recognized Day Day immediately as Hazel, her sweet dog who had gone missing three years ago when she lived in Iowa.
“The owner saw her in a story and was like, ‘That’s my dog!’” Wohlgefahrt said. “I think that was the first thing she said to us when she called us.”
Through photos and vet records, the shelter was able to verify Mathis’ story and shelter staffers were thrilled to have finally found Day Day’s mom.
Mathis was so happy that her family would be complete once again. “She was just so excited and so emotional about the whole thing,” Wohlgefahrt said. “Monica was there when Hazel was born, so this dog has been part of their family since the very beginning.”
The shelter is working out the details on how to get Day Day from Florida to Minnesota, but they are hoping that the happy reunion can take place soon.
“Everything came together like it was meant to be,” Wohlgefahrt said. “There’s no more perfect ending to it.”
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'Member the story from a few weeks ago about the Beer Brewery in Florida who post pics of lost dogs on their beer cans????
Yeah - well, here's a winner folks. Glad this program worked and is heading for better things.
This is great!! I hope Hazel is able to get home soon.
This is nice little story. By any chance are you one that likes dogs?
1st likes dogs but has cats.
I'm the one that trains and works with bully breeds, Vic.
Exactly - and if I could keep my wife and daughter from "visiting" animal shelters - well, we've got 8 cats now, but I've PUT MY FOOT DOWN - (might have to think 'bout finding a small apartment after that massive futch up.)
Only 8, 1st? I think you could use at least 2 more, LOL!
I think he should go for a bakers dozen.
Wow! I hear ya!
What do you train them for?
Can you remember all their names?
I doubt I could.
Jane - if my wife or daughter sees yours or Perrie's comments - I'M COMIN' TO GITCHA!!!!!!!
I’m sorry. I can actually relate. Many years ago I took my dog outside to do his business and what did I find? Someone had kindly left me a present in my carport. A wickedly mean mother cat and her six kittens. Yes, I kept them all and after a few weeks I even won over the mean mommy.
My husband was not pleased, but I won... as usual 😉
Easy - Xyna (Sissy) - 14, Griselda (Greasy) - 12, Jaguar - 12, Sky - 2, Blackie - 2, Whitey - 1, Shadow - 8 mos and Ghostie - 6 mos.
All of them answer to GET DOWN FROM THERE.
Great googly mooglies! 8?
That's in the crazy cat lady/dude zone
I like cats but that is too much brother! Better you than me.
You know what's great about it Sparty? After reading a few threads on the FB of NT - go to the living room, get surrounded by at least four fur bodies and the comments can just go to hell.
Betcha Kavika goes through the same relief process.
Fur bodies - can't beat'm.
See????
I get them socialized. Most have been abused, starved, dumped and used as breeders then dumped on the street when no longer wanted/needed. It a very sad situation.
To have a better chance of being adopted they need to trust humans again and be able to be around other dogs.
This is Keylo a 70 lb American Bulldog rescued from a drug house where he was chained up in a room. Currently, he has completed all of his training and socialization and is ready for adoption.
This is Carmella a 65 lb American Staffordshire Terrier. She was used as a breeder and dumped on the street. She was malnourished and had ear and skin infections. She has been nursed back to health and I'm working with her 5 days a week. She is excellent now with adults, kids and puppies. She is still very dog selective which I'm working on with her now...She is a sweetheart. She is short and built like a tank. She can clear a 5 foot fence with no problem.
Gorgeous, gorgeous gorgeous - thanks for the super work Kavika. You do great.
And I love what I'm doing and helping the dogs get adopted. It's very rewarding.
Right? Like vibrating teddy bears.🙂
When they get to purring, ain't gonna be no sleep
Can't beat our furry friends that's for sure.
They help get our minds right .....
That's quite a job. I believe the worst thing you can do to a dog is leave them chained up. It makes them mean.
Nice work!
Great story, and I bet it makes the people who decided to put missing dogs pictures on beer cans feel good about what they did.
Nice to hear a success in these trying times.
Hear, hear Brother John - hear, hear.
I think this is a wonderful story!
I just went to the shelters Facebook page to see if I could do anything to help get Hazel home. Looks like she is already on her way! 😁👍
Great to see JaneDoe...it's a little over 1600 miles to her home.
She gets to have one more adventure. This time she is going home! I hope they put up some video of the reunion.
That would be great.
What a great idea!
For anybody interested. There is some video of Hazel traveling to Wisconsin on the shelters FB page. Looks like today will be the day she sees her people again!
I'm not on FB. Be great if someone could copy it over here. Would love to see it.
I don’t think you have to be on FB to see it. Try above link. If it doesn’t take you there the very first sentence ( Manatee County Animal Services, in blue ) in above article will. I don’t know how to copy it here, sorry.
Lol thx. Hazel looks like a very happy dog
Yeah - just me and my stupid sense of humor - MCAS - Manatee Cove Animal Shelter - stole their name from the USMC - Marine Corps Air Station.
Sorry - not enough coffee.
Me too .... that new trade deal acronym screws me up .... USMCA as opposed to USMCR .....
A few years ago my friend found a small terrier wandering the streets. She was good at reuniting lost dogs with their owners. She had a vet tech friend bring over her chip reader and luckily the dog had one. As it turned out, the dog had been stolen five years ago and got loose from the yard the dog nappers had her in. The real owners were completely emotional when they came to get their dog as it was their disabled daughter's pet.
Paula - that's a beautiful story - thanks.
I went with her to meet up with the owners and even I cried when I saw how overjoyed the daughter was to have her best friend back.
I volunteer at an animal shelter, working mostly with big dogs. It really is a gift to myself to be around them, especially one-on-one time, either walking, playing, or hanging in the kennel with ones who need extra love. Would highly recommend it.