February 13, 2008 Southbridge man reunites with lost dog Bear Play video

(NECN - Southbridge, Mass.) - 10-year-old Bear, a German Shepard mix and Donald Gauthier of Southbridge, Massachusetts have a lost and found story that can't be beat. The two were separated last year when Don became sick and was placed in a nursing home, Bear was put in a shelter. Then, when Don was better and was told he could go home, all he wanted was to have Bear home again too.

Jayne Cacciapuoti was Don's social worker assigned to help him transition from the nursing home back to his home. She says all he wanted was to find his dog. She checked out a number of places, including the website for the Second Chance Animal Shelter in East Brookfield and that is where she saw a picture of Bear.

Shelter staff say it is a miracle Don and Bear were reunited. The story was so touching that the shelter decided to enter it into the Pedigree Adoption Foundation Kickoff Story competition and it won for Best Rescue Story of 2007.

Bear and Don's winning Pedigree Story was selected to run as a commercial during the Westminster Dog Show.

NECN's Danica Pecirep has the story.