Disabled Veteran Reunites With Lost Service Dog That Was Wrongfully Adopted

Dogs can be such an important part of the family, and they’re even more important when they act as service dogs. They’re more than part of the family, they’re a necessary part of our day-to-day lives.

When Tavaris Washington retired from the army and found himself disabled, he brought a little Siberian husky puppy into his life to help him get through each day.

The dog, Jasher, became Tavaris’ service dog and the two spent every day together. Jasher was a rock in Tavaris’ life, the thing that helped him cope with his disability.

Sadly, back in March, a landscaping person left the gate open at Tarvaris’ house and Jasher escaped the backyard. Huskies are notorious escape artists and Jasher dashed from the yard and began wandering neighborhoods.

That same day he went missing, he was picked up by the Coral Springs Humane Unit, but Tavaris had no idea where his BFF had gone.

The humane unit posted about the dog on Facebook, but no one recognized who the pup belonged to. Meanwhile, Tavaris was going door-to-door searching for his dog and putting the neighbors on alert. He spent hours and hours looking for Jasher, but kept coming up empty-handed.

Unfortunately, the humane unit only kept the pup for 5 days before handing him off to a rescue to be adopted. By the time Tavaris learned what had happened to his dog, the humane unit told him it was too late and refused to give him the name of the rescue Jasher had been adopted from.

In an interview with local news, Tavaris explained, “I’m a 100 percent disabled veteran out of the military, and I don’t get around to doing a lot of stuff, but when I have Jasher with me, he gives me the friend that I need, he helps me out when I’m down. He’s just my buddy, he is my best friend, literally.”

Tavaris was heartbroken and shared his story with the locals news, sparking public outrage. People demanded the husky be returned to his rightful owner, but the rescue and the dog’s new family remained silent.

However, the news story got people interested in the situation, and a private investigator, Ana Campos, stepped in to help Tavaris. Once she was involved, the shelter and Jasher’s “new family” agreed to give him back. It took a lot of work and was an emotional process, but it was all worth it because Tavaris and Jasher were finally reunited.

In an interview with WGLP, Tavaris said, “When I saw him, they couldn’t hold him back.”