Craigslist reunites dog and owner after 4 years apart

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - After nearly four years apart, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) reunited a dog and her former owner. The reunion follows weeks of canine medical care, a chance encounter on Craigslist, and a daughter determined to help animals.

Milady, a small Cocker Spaniel, arrived this June the MSPCA-Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center underweight and filthy. Her matted fur was yellowed from lying in her own waste and her nails had grown unchecked, growing back into her paws. The pain that she felt came mostly from her ears; infected and sealed shut. No matter how often she shook her head and rubbed her ears she could not make the pain stop.

The MSPCA-Boston’s veterinary team began the arduous process of evaluating and grooming Milady immediately. Her fur took more than an hour for two staff members to clip away. Milady’s ears held mounds of infection that required medication. Her frail body received the nourishment it so desperately required and through it all, Milady remained playful and engaging.

“Milady experienced neglect most recently in her life, however there was insufficient evidence to discover who had so gravely mistreated her,” said Jean Weber, the MSPCA’s director of animal protection. “Her personality is amazing and she has taught many of us about the benefits of perseverance.”

As the MSPCA worked to improve Milady’s health her former owner was trying to find two dogs she had re-homed years ago. Sandra Castillo faced serious medical issues nearly four years ago during a pregnancy. Her complications left her hospitalized for six months and unable to care for her two dogs that had begun to grow wary of each other. Sandra made the difficult decision to separately re-home her pets in 2006 and found appropriate homes.

Over the years, Sandra kept in contact with the new owner of one of her former pets to ensure that the dog was still receiving excellent care. However, since 2007 she had been unable to locate Milady’s new owners. Sandra began posting for information on craigslist without a response. In July 2010 she decided to make one, final posting to locate Milady. Her inbox was soon flooded with emails stating that the MSPCA had sent an email to its supporters detailing Milady’s story. On the afternoon of July 20, just hours after her posting, Sandra located Milady.

Sandra immediately applied to adopt Milady. During the adoption process it was discovered that Milady had most likely been re-homed several times after Sandra became ill. The MSPCA also discovered that Sandra’s daughter, a teenager when Milady was originally re-homed, was now employed at Angell Animal Medical Center, helping animals in need.

Originaly posted on MyFoxBoston.com