Last year, a dog named Haze arrived at the San Diego Humane Society rescue centre in the USA. Her owner, Ana, had just fallen into a coma following a serious car accident. With no one else to care for her, a family member had handed her over to the volunteers.
At the shelter, Haze became a favourite with all the staff very quickly. Smart and gentle, the young dog seemed to have everything going for her to find a new home quickly. Yet, despite making several television appearances arranged by the shelter to promote her adoption, not a single person applied to adopt her for a whole year.
A sudden awakening and an unexpected discovery
In the meantime, something remarkable happened: Ana made a full recovery. Convinced that her beloved dog would have been adopted long ago, the young woman visited the San Diego Humane Society website to look for a new companion.
As she browsed through the profiles of the animals looking for homes, Ana was stunned to see the face of Haze. Her own dog was still waiting for her at the shelter.
A deeply emotional reunion
Ana contacted the charity immediately to arrange to collect her pet. When they finally met, it took Haze only a few seconds to recognise her owner. The dog walked over, gave her some licks, and then leaned up against her for a proper cuddle.
"It was as if she was trying to climb into her lap. It was so emotional," said Nina Thompson, a spokesperson for the San Diego Humane Society. "After a few moments, her tail started wagging and her whole body relaxed. She knew."
Nobody could understand why Haze had never been adopted during that long year. But the shelter staff now realise that the loyal dog was simply waiting for her owner to return.