Dubai: There was a dog's chance of it happening. But an abandoned German Shepherd cross who was 20 minutes from being put down in Dubai was reunited with its owners thousands of miles away in the UK.
Life & Style | Pets
Home again: Emotional reunion
11-year-old UK girl reunites with pet dog her family had to leave behind in Dubai six months back
- By Sharmila Dhal, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 November 24, 2011
- Image Credit: Supplied
- Ooverjoyed: Alyssa’s parents captured the reunion on video, which has become a YouTube hit, with 36,000 views in just six days.
Even as videos of the touching reunion of Holly with the Smith family in Hampshire have gone viral, UAE animal rescue groups that made it possible said the dog flew aboard an Emirates flight on November 17 after an equally dramatic turn of events.
Raghad Auttabashi of Al Rahma Animal Welfare Society, Abu Dhabi told XPRESS the pet was adopted by Darren and Claudia Smith, former residents of Dubai, two years ago. In May 2011, Darren lost his job and had to return to the UK. They were forced to leave Holly behind with a family but had every intention of getting her to the UK after the quarantine period. In fact, they had secured her pet passport and had her blood tests done before they left.
But as it turned out, Holly ran away from its new owners. Given up as an ‘abandoned dog', she was due to be put down at 1pm on an August afternoon.
Luckily, an animal lover who spotted her on ‘death row' posted a Facebook message with an adoption appeal. Raghad decided to take in the pet. "We managed to save her 20 minutes before she could be put down."
Kayla, as the dog was named, was cleaned and vaccinated. Shortly after, Raghad got in touch with Montserrat Martin of Friends of Animals (FOA), another rescue group, to help re-home the dog. Montserrat took pictures of her and posted an ad on the FOA website and an online forum.
Five weeks later, she received the most unexpected call; it was from Claudia Smith in Hampshire who claimed Kayla was her Holly! "Weeping like a child, Claudia said she had no doubt about Holly's identity. The conviction was touching," said Montserrat, who put her on to Raghad.
The next thing they knew they were all working to string Holly's papers together and fly her to Hampshire where the Smiths prepared to give their daughter Alyssa a lifetime's surprise.
"I grumbled about the money [the reunion cost them Dh7,450] but the look on my daughter's face was a priceless family moment," Darren Smith told the BBC.
Comments (11)
Share your views.
|
More from Life & Style
Life & Style editor's choice
-
India’s famous child bride ties the knot again
Laxmi Sargara has found love with her new husband, says Helen Roberts
-
A day in the life of Emirati zookeeper
Emirati zookeeper shows what it takes to be caretaker of dangerous animals. Watch this video
-
Catching up with ‘Forrest Gump’
Cesar Guarin intends to complete the Global Run which he began three decades ago
-
Bugs are food of the future, says UN
Beetles, caterpillars and wasps could supplement diets around the world, UN organisation says
-
Ultimate test for high-end cars in Dubai
Jaguar and Land Rover to be tested in extreme weather conditions at new Dubai facility