Finding the right furry companion isn’t an easy task, no matter what you may think. Sometimes, it can even take years to come across that wagging tail that will change your life!

Patrice Lavoie, an animal volunteer and hopeless dog lover, knew this very well. So when fate matched him with Leon, he didn’t waste any time. He immediately rushed into action and made arrangements to take this four-legged boy home.

But just four months later, Lavoie received a call that truly shocked him…a call he never expected to receive.

It Was Love At First Sight

Being a volunteer in an animal shelter means witnessing many different situations – dogs being adopted, dogs being surrendered, aggressive dogs, friendly dogs…so many!

It also means having the ability to recognize a special furry situation when you see it. And that day, Lavoie recognized one! A dog named Leon, who was known for excessive barking, locked eyes with this man – and the rest, as they say, is history.

A post shared by P Λ T & T H E P Λ C K | Rescue & assistance dogs (@patricelavoie)

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The two immediately became best friends. They bonded as if they had known each other for years, which ultimately made Lavoie adopt him. However, as a volunteer, he had to follow a certain set of rules – and wait several weeks to take Leon home.

Eventually, the two started a new chapter in their lives. Leon, who had already been adopted and returned to the shelter three times, now had it all! 

“At home, he regained his hair, confidence, weight and good mood. I took him everywhere: to the hotel, to visit the elderly, at the vet, in public places… He loved the car and running with my other dogs,” Lavoie wrote on Instagram.

The two thrived together for months. Leon loved his new life, surrounded by the man who showed him what true happiness feels like and his new pack of doggo siblings.

Everything went smoothly, until, one day, the phone rang!

The Call He Won’t Forget

After posting a photo of Leon in a group on social media, Lavoie received shocking news! A family reached out to him, claiming that this pooch had already had a loving home before. Sadly, his owners had lost track of him when he was entrusted to someone else.

Months later, those people neglected him and Leon’s owners, who already owned his mom and dad, wanted to get him back but couldn’t.

“They tried to get him back for many months, and the door was slammed on them. Until the other family got rid of him and then they could never locate him. They’ve been thinking about this dog for a year and a half,” Lavoie wrote.

Ever since that day, Leon, originally named Munster, was a puzzle to them. They spent almost two years making inquiries and searching for any information until they finally saw the photo of him in Lavoie’s post.

After careful consideration, Leon’s new owner knew returning his furry companion was the right thing to do. He arranged a meeting with the original owners and gave the dog one more chance to reunite with his original family.

Needless to say – Leon was beyond happy! He recognized his original mama and dad and just couldn’t stop kissing them. 

It was a reunion filled with both tears and laughter, along with reminiscing about their past. Lavoie shared a tear-jerking TikTok video showcasing Leon and his family greeting each other after so long apart.

But what came next truly left viewers sobbing. 

Lavoie, having successfully reunited his sweet rescue boi with his mama and dad, had to say one last goodbye to Leon. And, without a doubt, that was the hardest thing to do.

No matter how right it felt, Lavoie’s heart shattered as he hugged Leon goodbye, wishing him a good start in a new/old home. 

The good news is that the two will stay in touch, and Lavoie will even get to dog-sit every once in a while. But for now, Leon has many memories to relive. 

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Source: CNN