When Otis the chocolate Labrador went missing two years ago, hope of his return had slowly fizzled out. But, over the weekend, a series of miracles took place—the ripple effect result of one moment of kindness that would reunite Otis and his mom once more!
Midrand, South Africa (08 January 2024) — Otis the chocolate Labrador had only been with his new mom for around two months after he was adopted from the SPCA before he would become another missing dog story for two whole years. But, thanks to a ripple effect series of miracles kickstarted by one moment of kindness, Otis finally got to return home last weekend!
Rewinding back to the beginning of Otis’s story, we meet an 18-month-old pooch and his then-new mom Ise-Lu. In their short time together, Otis enjoyed a lot of new adventures and experiences including doggy training and daycare, loving arms and a place to call his own.
Everything changed when one day, Otis disappeared without explanation. Ise-Lu searched desperately for her baby; spotlighting his disappearance among the community, vets and the SPCA. A few days turned into weeks, and eventually week without Lotus turned into two years. It is believed that Otis had been stolen.
Life went on, but the Otis-shaped hole in Ise-Lu’s heart was still, understandably there.
As Paws R Us: SA, who put the story onto Good Things Guy’s radar shared:
“There is nothing worse than wondering where a loved one is, if he is safe, alive…and not having any closure.”
Then, a moment that seemed completely unrelated to Ise-Lu or Otis flipped the story once again.
A fire broke out in Chloorkop near Tembisa. Firefighters had been called out to the landfill site. But, a fire wasn’t all these heroes would find!
“In the middle of the chaos and the dirt, they [found] a chocolate Labby boy,” share Paws R Us: SA. Of course, Fireman Wade who spent a great deal of time trying to get the lab to come to him, did not know who this special boy was. To him, it was simply an animal who needed help.
But, that moment of kindness would set into motion a ripple effect of miracles.
Following the pooch allowing the fireman to help him, more incredible things happened. The first was that he was taken to the Paws R Us Shelter, where his chip was discovered, identifying him as THE Otis. The second was a trip to the vet, where he was deemed relatively healthy (and well-fed). The third? Letting Ise-Lu know her good boy had finally been found.
On Saturday 6 January, the ripple effect of good saw Ise-Lu, her new husband Mzwakhe and Otis unite.
Emotions were high, and grateful.
“How he ended up at the landfill is anyone’s guess. However, we are just HUGELY GRATEFUL to fireman Wade and his team for not just attending to a fire, but taking the time to rescue a frightened soul from that place of dirt and cats. That one moment of kindness triggered a ripple effect of beautiful events.”—Paws R Us: SA.
Moral of the story? Miracles do happen in the most unexpected ways! And micro-chipping might just be one of the most important decisions you can ever make for your fur-children.
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