‘Like somebody came back to life.’ Michigan teen reunites with lost dog after 11 months

FLINT, MI — Jake Free thought he misplaced a member of the family in summer time 2021.

His pit bull, Vanessa, had gotten out of the yard of Free’s Flint residence whereas chasing a bag flying within the wind and by no means got here again.

Vanessa’s left a number of occasions, right here and there, however usually she’s all the time again inside an hour.

That’s how Free knew that one thing was off.

Free and his household began going across the neighborhood calling for Vanessa, asking the neighbors if that they had seen the canine.

Days glided by and so they began posting “Misplaced Canine” flyers with a photograph of Vanessa in a determined try to search out her.

Nonetheless, the early morning and late night time searches have been to no avail.

That’s till nearly one 12 months later.

Free’s mom noticed a submit on Fb the place somebody had written a couple of misplaced canine and posted an image.

It was onerous to fathom at first as a result of it had been over 10 and a half months since she left.

“I used to be like, ‘I can’t even imagine what is occurring proper now.’ I used to be in disbelief,” Free stated.

Somebody had discovered her about 10 miles from Free’s home.

On the meet-up, it was clear to each events that two lifelong buddies have been reunited that day.

Vanessa was introduced outdoors and ran proper as much as Free. It was “like a film,” the 18-year-old stated.

“It was lovely. All of the feelings simply exploded collectively: it was happiness, but in addition disappointment since you are fascinated about the start,” he stated. “It was numerous pleasure. … It was like any individual got here again to life.”

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There was a degree after a pair months when Free began to lose hope.

He would all the time hope the perfect for Vanessa, however you begin considering the worst occurred to her after time, Free stated.

“We weren’t in a position to sleep,” Free stated. “… Sooner or later, we simply needed to let it go as a result of you’ll be able to’t search endlessly. Sooner or later, it’s important to get again to your life.”

Free remembered getting Vanessa, 4, when she was a pet and he was simply 14 years outdated.

“You eat with them. You sit with them. She is rather like one other member of the household,” Free stated. “We love her and she or he loves us.”

He now treats each second along with her as his final. This case taught him to by no means take issues with no consideration, he stated.

Now that she’s residence, Free stated he’s ensuring to provide her extra treats and lock the gates within the yard.

“You are taking issues with no consideration till you don’t have it, whether or not it’s folks or pets. You have no idea how vital one thing is in your life till you might be lacking it,” he stated.

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