"It's almost like finding a long-lost child."

When Walter Smith's wife died Buddy, a yellow Lab, became his constant companion. Then, someone stole Buddy.

"Smith [86] started his tireless search, making daily visits to animal shelters, running ads in the newspaper. It was no good. People called with vague Lab sightings. One person even called to say they had seen a Lab hit by a car."

Five years later two sisters were admiring a yellow Lab when its owner offered it to them. She was moving, she told them, and going to take the dog to the pound.

The dog, whose name was Buddy, was infested with fleas, ringworms and hookworms, marred by sores and horribly overweight.

Reunited, the now 91-year-old Smith realized Buddy was too much dog for him to care for.

The rest of the story is here.
~~~~~

LATER: Linked to at Canine Carnival 10 and Let's See What Others Are Saying.