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Stolen Pit Bull Found 2,000 Miles Away Returns Home For Christmas With The Help Of 15 Volunteers
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Stolen Pit Bull Found 2,000 Miles Away Returns Home For Christmas With The Help Of 15 Volunteers

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Our pets are members of our own families. So when a pet goes missing, we do everything that we can to get them back, from putting up posters to turning to social media for help. But sometimes that’s not enough, because our pets can end up halfway across the country. It’s a good thing there are so many kind-hearted people out there!

A dog named Zeus, who is a pit bull mix and lives in Butte, Montana, was stolen along with some of his owner Cassandra’s things back in October. Fortunately, the ‘friend’ who robbed Cassandra was discovered 2,000 miles away about a week ago, and Zeus was still with him!

The journey was long, but two organizations lent their help: Many Paws Volunteer Transport which coordinated the canine’s journey across the US, as well as the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association, which posted updates about the dog’s trip. It took over a dozen volunteers (or “30 legs and 3 sleepovers” according to Many Paws) to bring Zeus back home. Just in time for Christmas!

More info: Facebook (Many Paws Volunteer Transport) | Facebook (Kanawha Charleston Humane Association)

Zeus the dog was stolen and ended up 2,000 miles away. It took 15 volunteers (or “30 legs”) to get him back home

Image credits: dog_rates

The doggo was stolen back in late October and came back home only in December

Image credits: dog_rates

Image credits: dog_rates

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Image credits: WOWK 13 News

The doggo’s owner used FaceTime to confirm that it was her good boy who was found 2,000 miles away

Image credits: WOWK 13 News

Image credits: WOWK 13 News

Image credits: WOWK 13 News

Zeus the dog weighed a whopping 73 pounds (that’s 33 kilograms for everyone else), so flying him back to his owner Cassandra was out of the question. This good boy was simply too big. That’s when volunteers offered their help.

A relay of volunteers drove Zeus for 4 days across 9 states

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Image credits: WOWK 13 News

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Image credits: WOWK 13 News

 

Image credits: WOWK 13 News

Image credits: dog_rates

It took a 15-driver relay 4 days to make the journey across 9 states to reunite Zeus with Cassandra. Talk about real dedication!

Zeus was incredibly happy to be reunited with his owner and her kids

Image credits: dog_rates

Image credits: dog_rates

Image credits: WOWK 13 News

“It’s wonderful. This is a great experience, a great opportunity to show the people and communities across the United States offering to help, jumping on this—to help reunite this dog with its family,” one of the volunteers with Many Paws Volunteer Transport, Jenn Robles, told the media.

Here’s a video that goes into more detail about Zeus’ journey

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Image credits: WOWK 13 News

The reunion was magical: Zeus’ owner was crying openly while her kids rushed to pet the doggo. “Happy Zeus-y, Happy Zeus-y. I missed you,” one of the girls said. That’s to say nothing of Zeus himself, who looked very glad to be with the people who love him. He was home. And he was happy.

People loved the heart-warming Christmas story

Image credits: craignewman

Image credits: MajolaB

Image credits: jencoleslaw

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crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kidnapping a dog should be punished like kidnapping a person.

lsgm2fw avatar
Zoe's Mom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agree. I don't see where in they story they address what happened to the person who stole him or did I miss it?

Load More Replies...
erinwelch_1 avatar
ERIN W.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just absolutely incredible and amazing, not to mention AWESOME! This is an incredible story with an incredible outcome! It's wonderful to know that there are people out there willing to get someone's family member back home! How did they find out it was their's, microchipped, Before the first person/volunteer could legally take the dog?! Well at least he's back home in what looks like pretty good shape!

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All hail the mighty micro chip technology. Thank god for scientists that developed it!

Load More Replies...
bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

" Dogs make us better people. " I'm using that. And paraphrasing it to whatever pet people have. ( of course not with wild animals but ).

joereaves avatar
Joe Reaves
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's home and no doubt telling his person about all the new friends he made!

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful story. I'm sa glad they got reunited. Zeus' reaction when he face-timed with his human ... I think I have something in the eye. I need to see the story made into a movie. Oh, and it's good to know about pilotsnpaws too. And I hope the dognapper and thief was punished (if not by law, than at least by karma)

shaynameidela avatar
Dorothy Parker
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zeus is a delicious dog. I wish him and his family a wonderful new year and eons of joy. I hope these marvelous volunteers know how great they are.

erinwelch_1 avatar
ERIN W.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

EVERYONE that helped with the return of the dog to his family are angels!

melissa_9 avatar
Melissa Nunya
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder what He was thinking after being passed a few times. Can only imagine lol such a happy ending

legogal1960 avatar
Catarina Pupillo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is the one thing I love about Americans, we do crazy stuff for animals.

kacijoseph avatar
SaddBoii
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plot twist : it wasn't her dog and she switched the chip...

adamguillemette avatar
Adam Guillemette
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can someone tell me the other side of this? How was Zeus stolen? How was he found? What happened to the thief? Was there justice?

sharronlparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for a happy ending, I wonder if some people will notice, pit bulls are awesome family pets, loving and loyal , I knew little about them, until I saw the t,v, program "Pit Bulls and Parole's, the rescue, a family who hire Parolees, excellent,a must see, I am so pleased about Zeus, such a sweet loving boy, Bless all who helped !!!

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people pronounce "Jesus" as Hey Zues. Just admiring the co-incidence.

chrisdifonso avatar
Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Conflicting statements in the post. Was Zeus driven because his breed is not allowed on planes, or was it because of Zeus's size and weight?

jksimm515 avatar
Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They can't say that they can't fly simply based on breed, they tried that and people got pissed. So my guess is that they probably said it was based on size even though it was most likely a combination.

Load More Replies...
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Kidnapping a dog should be punished like kidnapping a person.

lsgm2fw avatar
Zoe's Mom
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agree. I don't see where in they story they address what happened to the person who stole him or did I miss it?

Load More Replies...
erinwelch_1 avatar
ERIN W.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is just absolutely incredible and amazing, not to mention AWESOME! This is an incredible story with an incredible outcome! It's wonderful to know that there are people out there willing to get someone's family member back home! How did they find out it was their's, microchipped, Before the first person/volunteer could legally take the dog?! Well at least he's back home in what looks like pretty good shape!

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All hail the mighty micro chip technology. Thank god for scientists that developed it!

Load More Replies...
bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

" Dogs make us better people. " I'm using that. And paraphrasing it to whatever pet people have. ( of course not with wild animals but ).

joereaves avatar
Joe Reaves
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He's home and no doubt telling his person about all the new friends he made!

bpbperic avatar
Night Owl
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful story. I'm sa glad they got reunited. Zeus' reaction when he face-timed with his human ... I think I have something in the eye. I need to see the story made into a movie. Oh, and it's good to know about pilotsnpaws too. And I hope the dognapper and thief was punished (if not by law, than at least by karma)

shaynameidela avatar
Dorothy Parker
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Zeus is a delicious dog. I wish him and his family a wonderful new year and eons of joy. I hope these marvelous volunteers know how great they are.

erinwelch_1 avatar
ERIN W.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

EVERYONE that helped with the return of the dog to his family are angels!

melissa_9 avatar
Melissa Nunya
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wonder what He was thinking after being passed a few times. Can only imagine lol such a happy ending

legogal1960 avatar
Catarina Pupillo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is the one thing I love about Americans, we do crazy stuff for animals.

kacijoseph avatar
SaddBoii
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Plot twist : it wasn't her dog and she switched the chip...

adamguillemette avatar
Adam Guillemette
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can someone tell me the other side of this? How was Zeus stolen? How was he found? What happened to the thief? Was there justice?

sharronlparsons avatar
sharron lynn parsons
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for a happy ending, I wonder if some people will notice, pit bulls are awesome family pets, loving and loyal , I knew little about them, until I saw the t,v, program "Pit Bulls and Parole's, the rescue, a family who hire Parolees, excellent,a must see, I am so pleased about Zeus, such a sweet loving boy, Bless all who helped !!!

bronmargaret avatar
Magpie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people pronounce "Jesus" as Hey Zues. Just admiring the co-incidence.

chrisdifonso avatar
Chris DiFonso
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Conflicting statements in the post. Was Zeus driven because his breed is not allowed on planes, or was it because of Zeus's size and weight?

jksimm515 avatar
Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They can't say that they can't fly simply based on breed, they tried that and people got pissed. So my guess is that they probably said it was based on size even though it was most likely a combination.

Load More Replies...
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