The little dog, named Panfilo, was affectionately known as Hopper during his stay at Santa Fe Animal Shelter after he was found wandering the streets.
Missing dog
The 2-year-old pup had gone missing during a stop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, while travelling with his owner, a truck driver from Maryland. The tired and confused dog was taken to the shelter, where he was given a temporary home while staff tried to track down his owner.
What they didn’t know was that the dog’s owner was also doing their own search for the pup.
After 17 days at the shelter, the dog’s photo was posted on the shelter advertising him as available for adoption. Miraculously, the dog’s owner Roughiatou Sotelo spotted the posting and recognised their canine companion.
Emotional reunion
Soon afterwards, Sotelo was on a plane heading to Sante Fe.
The moment Sotelo entered the room, Panfilo couldn't contain his excitement. Everyone had tears in their eyes as owner and dog hugged, with Panfilo showering his owner with kisses. The emotional reunion marked the end of a harrowing separation, and the pair wasted no time hitting the road back to Maryland.
While the shelter staff were sad to say goodbye, they were thrilled to be able to reunite the dog with its owner.
