A dog owner’s darkest fear turned into a joyous reality.
When Hannah Riley shared on social media that her 10-year-old Papillon, Hazel, had vanished, the online community rallied together to bring them back together—and their efforts paid off.
While Riley was on vacation, Hazel, a white and beige Papillon, had to be urgently taken to St. Francis Veterinary Specialists and Emergency in Atlanta, Georgia. The emergency was due to Hazel ingesting several cannabis gummies at her caretaker’s place.
On March 17, Riley made an urgent plea online: “MISSING DOG IN DECATUR/ATLANTA GEORGIA. Hazel was at an emergency vet (St. Francis) when they took her outside without a leash, and she ran away. She has a catheter in her leg and is frightened and unwell. She’s wary of people and aggressive towards other dogs.”
This initial post quickly garnered 800,400 views by Friday afternoon.
The following day, Riley expressed her deep gratitude for the widespread support, despite being infuriated and devastated that Hazel was taken outside without a leash. She couldn’t bear the thought of Hazel being cold and possibly in pain due to the catheter, especially while she was so far away.
A GoFundMe page, set up by a close friend, highlighted that Hazel, who is microchipped, had nothing on her but a hospital collar and a catheter in her leg. The page described the decision to take Hazel outside without a leash as astonishingly careless, leading to her escape.
Riley later shared a photo of their touching reunion, capturing the moment they were brought back together.
In less than 24 hours, the fundraising campaign to spread the word and bring Hazel home surpassed its $10,000 goal. A Google sheet was also created for volunteers willing to join the search, showcasing the community’s collective effort to assist.
Thrive Pet Healthcare, the parent company of St. Francis, expressed their deep regret over the incident, stating that their regional leadership had been in constant communication with Hazel’s family and was fully supporting the search efforts.
Thankfully, this story had a happy ending. Riley and Hazel, who have been inseparable since Hazel’s adoption six years ago, were reunited. Early Friday morning, Riley received a text with a photo of Hazel, indicating someone had found her. Overwhelmed with joy, Riley immediately set out to the location in Decatur.
Riley shared the emotional moment of their reunion online, revealing Hazel was thin, scared, and shaking, but responded to her name without any significant visible injuries. Back home, Hazel’s recovery began with apple treats and water, her tail wagging once more.
Riley’s overwhelming happiness was palpable as she shared, “I can’t stop crying 😭 A B–CH LIVED.”