A dog that went missing in August has been reunited with his family with the help of a stranger.
The dog, 10-year-old Kimbo, escaped out the front door of his North York home on Aug. 28 and ended up at the Toronto Humane Society (THS). He was later adopted by another family.
“I jumped in my car and did the roundabout looking for him (but) couldn't find him,” owner Michelle Daniels told CTV News Toronto of her search efforts.
Kimbo was a companion to her family, Daniels said, especially to her father, who suffers from dementia. Daniels found out that her pet had been adopted and asked the new family to return him.
They initially refused, however, a $5,000 offer from a stranger ended up swaying them.
Lawrence Dalle Vedove told the Toronto Star he left a voicemail at the humane society, saying he would arrange a rally at their offices if the family would not give Kimbo back.
The following day, THS CEO Jacques Messier called him back and Vedove told him he would offer the new family a cash reward.
“That's not attached - if money can make you give him up,” Daniels said.
“There's no amount of money that can make me give Kimbo away. That's love.”
According to the Star, the family accepted the offer on Monday and Kimbo was finally reunited with his original family after being separated for months.
“It's still surreal for me,” Daniels said. “Sometimes hearing his bark, I'm still startled. I'm like, ‘What's that noise?’ because for two months it's just been so quiet.”
With files from Tracy Tong
