This Family Lost Their Only Dog — Then Adopted Another Who Carried a Secret that Shocked Everyone
There are times when the universe hands us coincidences that feel so unreal. And if there’s a family that can attest to this, it’s the Reiff family.
The Reiffs lost their beloved dog, Rufus, a few months ago, as narrated in a touching TikTok video posted by Garvin Thomas of NBC Bay Area. Rufus was not just a mere pet to the Reiff family; he was a cherished family member. Rufus had been with the Reiffs for a whole decade, and so when he passed away, his absence echoed in every part of their hearts. (Watch Video Below)
@garvinthomas Family gets amazing and heartwarming surprise after adopting dog. #rescuedog @Muttville @NBC Bay Area ♬ original sound – Garvin Thomas
Since life after losing Rufus felt unbearably hollow, the Reiffs decided to take a big step that many grieving families often consider: adopting another dog. The Reiffs family didn’t need to think long and hard about which dog to adopt. They were well aware of how painfully overlooked senior dogs are, and so they began searching for the perfect senior pup who’d at least fill the void left behind by Rufus.
Their online search led them to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue, a San Francisco-based rescue dedicated to older dogs. And as they browsed through the rescue’s website, they bumped into a photo that left them too stunned to speak. In the photo was a senior pup named Ziggy, and he looked exactly like their beloved dog, Rufus.
Too Many Coincidences…
Seeing Ziggy listed for adoption stirred a mix of peace and comfort in the hearts of the Reiff family; something they hadn’t felt ever since Rufus passed on. Everything about Ziggy’s appearance screamed “Rufus.” Their resemblance was so unbelievable, and it was this moment that the Reiffs decided to bring Ziggy home.
While in his new home, Ziggy’s similarities with Rufus continued to pile up. Interestingly, the Reiffs family noticed this was beyond a physical resemblance. Ziggy behaved almost the same way as Rufus, so much so that things started to feel a little strange — in a beautiful way.
At first, the family assumed that grief was making them force connections that didn’t exist. But when the resemblances continued to nag at them, curiosity prompted them to carry out a DNA test on Ziggy. They weren’t expecting much: just a simple breed explanation or fun scientific fact that could at least provide answers to these many coincidences. But unknown to them, the DNA results would unleash a reality that nobody saw coming, not even in their wildest imagination.
A Life-Changing Discovery
To their shock, DNA revealed that Ziggy was Rufus’s father. Yes, you read that right. The dog that the Reiffs had loved for years and lost was actually Ziggy’s son.
The Reiffs hadn’t just adopted a Rufus look-alike; they had adopted Rufus’s very own blood. It was a beautiful discovery that instantly brought them to tears as they digested the reality that even though Rufus was gone, a huge part of him remained with them — literally.
The Reiffs now feel whole again, not because they found Rufus’s replacement, but because love circled back to them in the most extraordinary way.
