This dog owner’s worst nightmare had a happy ending.
After Hannah Riley posted on X that her 10-year-old dog went missing, people on the internet collectively made it their mission to reunite them — and they succeeded.
Riley was on vacation when her white and beige papillon named Hazel had to be rushed to St. Francis Veterinary Specialists and Emergency in Atlanta, Georgia, after consuming multiple cannabis gummies at her sitter’s home.
On March 17, Riley posted, “MISSING DOG IN DECATUR/ATLANTA GEORGIA.
“Hazel was at an emergency vet (St. Francis) when they took her outside without a leash and she bolted. She has a catheter in her leg and is scared and sick. She’s scared of people and she is aggressive to other dogs.”
That original post had 800,400 views as of Friday afternoon.
The next day, she tweeted that she was extremely grateful for everyone trying to help, adding, “I just cannot believe they took her outside without a leash. I am so angry and SO devastated at the thought of her out there cold and maybe in pain from the catheter. And I’m so far away. Absolute nightmare.”
According to a GoFundMe page created by a close friend of Riley’s, all Hazel — who is microchipped — had on her body “was a hospital collar and a catheter in her leg.”
“No one knows how or why this astonishingly careless decision was made, but the result was that Hazel escaped and has been missing ever since,” the fundraising page said.
The fundraising goal was $10,000 “for ad space to spread the word and bring Hazel home” — and that amount was exceeded in less than 24 hours.
A Google sheet for volunteers to help find Hazel was launched, and friends and strangers alike all banded together to help out.
St. Francis’ parent company, Thrive Pet Healthcare, said in a statement to The Philadelphia Inquirer: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred at Saint Francis Veterinary Specialists and Emergency a few days ago. Our regional leadership is and has been in communication with Hazel’s family and remains supportive of the search.”
Thankfully, the story wasn’t over for Riley and Hazel, who have been “attached at the hip” since the dog was adopted six years ago.
Around 8 a.m. Friday morning, Riley posted a screenshot of a text on X that included a picture of the dog and a message that said a person believed they’d located the pooch.
“SOMEONE FOUND HAZEL!!!!!!! I’m driving to the house in Decatur right now!!!!!!!!!!!!” she wrote.
Riley posted a photo of their heartwarming reunion, sharing, “she’s so skinny and scared and shaking but she’s responding to her name and no huge visible injury I am in SHOCK.”
“We’re home and my mom is feeding her apple and she’s drinking and wagging her tail guys I am in shock I’m so so so so so happy,” she continued.
“I can’t stop crying 😭 A B–CH LIVED.”