Woman Never Forgot About Foster Dog, Then Finds Him in Shelter Years Later

A woman has been reunited with the dog she fostered years ago, after he wound up back in the shelter.

Katelyn, 32, from Ohio, looked after Nacho, an American bully and Labrador cross, in 2020 when she lived in Nebraska, after she decided to start fostering while at home during the pandemic.

"Since at the time I was childless and dog-less, I had the perfect low-traffic home for 'Diamond Dogs' to decompress," she told Newsweek, using a term from the Nebraska Humane Society for dogs that are "either extremely shy or rather rowdy" and need "some 'polish' to shine."

While Katelyn instantly "fell in love" with the blue-eyed pup, whom she called her "third and most rowdy foster," she was preparing to adopt another large breed and wasn't confident she could take on two big dogs at once.

At the time, it appeared that Nacho had secured his happy ending. After the Nebraska Humane Society shared a video of Nacho and Katelyn together, he was quickly adopted.

"Over the next 4.5 years, I wondered about Nacho often," Katelyn said. "I always wondered how he was doing and felt a little sad that it just wasn't the right time for me to adopt him."

But this year, Katelyn received a devastating message from a friend. Nacho was back at the same shelter, as an unclaimed stray—and the photos used on the listing were ones Katelyn herself had taken all those years ago.

Photos of Nacho and Katelyn, who had fostered him in 2020 and gave him up when he was adopted. Four years later, she saw him on a shelter's website and adopted him herself. Photos of Nacho and Katelyn, who had fostered him in 2020 and gave him up when he was adopted. Four years later, she saw him on a shelter's website and adopted him herself. TikTok @campkate.co

At the time, Katelyn was grieving her senior dog, Cash, who had died from a ruptured tumor. She thought she "wouldn't be ready to adopt again for a while," instead focusing on her dog-sitting business and fostering pups.

After seeing Nacho's listing back on the shelter, it took her only seconds before she knew it was time to bring the dog to his true forever home.

On September 22, under the handle @campkate.co, Katelyn posted a video on TikTok showing her reunion with Nacho. Judging by his reaction, Nacho never forgot about his former foster carer.

As they walk across a parking lot to greet each other, Nacho notices her and begins springing forward, pulling on his leash and jumping up and down, his tail wagging furiously.

Katelyn gets on her knees in the grass and gives him cuddles and pats as he repeatedly jumps at and licks her.

In the caption of the video, which has been viewed 117,000 times, she thanked everyone who helped her welcome Nacho home—including the foster carer who kept Nacho until Katelyn could travel, the friend who drove him halfway to Ohio and her father, who made the trip with her.

She also thanked Cash, saying, "Without her I truly don't think all these pieces would have fallen into place."

Photos of Nacho and Kate, whose reunion melted hearts across the internet. Though it had been years, he instantly recognized her and began pulling on his leash to get close to her. Photos of Nacho and Kate, whose reunion melted hearts across the internet. Though it had been years, he instantly recognized her and began pulling on his leash to get close to her. TikTok @campkate.co

TikTok users were moved by Nacho and Kate's story, with the clip receiving more than 13,000 likes.

One commenter said they were "absolutely sobbing. Thank you for going back for him."

Another joked, "I'm not an expert but I think he MAY remember you," while a user said: "What a beautiful story. Your dog who passed sent him back to you."

"The way he ran to you," another said, adding a crying emoji. One user commented: "You have a soul dog. I'm so glad he made his way back to you."

Katelyn, who also posts on Instagram under the username @campkate.co, told Newsweek, "I honestly didn't think he'd remember me, but the video I think tells a different story."

Nacho was listed on the shelter's website as an "unclaimed stray," and Katelyn did not know how he ended up back there or what had happened with his owners.

"I received a lot of comments on the video shaming the previous adopters, but the reality is, we are in no position to shame or judge," she said.

"We don't know what happened or why he went unclaimed. What I do know is, I am over the moon with how it ultimately turned out. These last three weeks with him have been perfect. Cash was my soul dog, and Nacho is my heart dog—healing my heart after great loss," she continued.

Nacho's story is not unique: According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, about 6.3 million animals enter shelters across the U.S. each year.

In positive news, about 4.1 million animals—2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats—are adopted each year, and about 810,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners, including 710,000 dogs.

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