WATCH: Woman Reunites With Her Dogs After Heartbreaking Separation—And Their Excitement Is Unforgettable
Sunny is a loving dog owner who would do anything for her two dogs—Izzy and Moonpie—but found herself struggling to care for herself, much less her pups. Sunny was unhoused, living in her car with her dogs, and struggling to find resources as a recovering addict. Her daughter was doing everything she could to help, but they needed additional support and that’s when Dogs Matter stepped in to help.
Dogs Matter is a non-profit based in Dallas, Texas that offers free temporary foster care and additional pet supplies, veterinary care, and resources to people participating in or seeking in-patient addiction treatment. Going into an in-patient recovery recovery program can mean putting much of your life on hold for weeks or even months. For pet owners, participating in in-patient recovery programs means finding temporary care for their animals, a resource many people don’t have access to. It’s not economically feasible for people to board their dogs for months while they seek treatment, nor do most people have family or friends willing and able to take their pets.
@dogsmatter2.org 💜 REUNITED! What could have been 6 months apart was only 32 days, thanks to Sunny’s determination. Sunny was unhoused and unsure of her next move. Her daughter did her best to care for Izzy and Moonpie, but they pups were living in a car. That’s when Dogs Matter stepped in to help! Sunny worked hard to find a sober living that takes dogs, she’s almost 6️⃣ months SOBER, and working full time! We’re amazed by Sunny’s strength and the deep bond she shares with her pups. Thanks to the support of people like you, we were able to help Izzy with an emergency vet visit over Christmas and provide an aftercare package when it was time to reunite her with Moonpie. If you’d like to make a difference, please consider donating today and comment “IZZY and MOONPIE” to show your support! Venmo – @dogsmatter PayPal – @dogsmatterdallas #fosteringrecovery #fosteringsaveslives #recovery #dogsmatter #secondchances #foster #fosterdogs #recoverymatters #dogsmattertoo #soberliving ♬ Sunset – Tobias Bergson
Foster families that volunteer with Dogs Matter provide safe, comfortable housing for pets while their humans seek treatment, and the program prioritizes clients looking for long-term programs lasting 30–90 days. The mission is to provide a valuable community resource that empowers people experiencing addiction to seek recovery and keeps their pets out of shelters.
“The choice to hand over a dog, even if temporary, is often the single biggest objection a dog owner has who is facing an extended in-patient treatment program for alcohol or substance use disorder,” says Dogs Matter’s website. “Over 90% of pet owners consider their pet part of the family. So, knowing their dog will be cared for in a safe and loving foster home eases any added stress allowing our clients to focus all their energy on healing.”
Fighting To Reunite With Her Dogs—Sunny Finds a Home
Once Dogs Matter had Sunny’s dogs Izzy and Moonpie in their care, Sunny could finally focus on finding the resources she needed. During their time apart, Sunny continued to work on her sobriety and will soon celebrate six months sober. Sunny also found a dog-friendly sober living and a full-time job and has dedicated herself to ensuring she can reunite with her pups.
While Sunny focused on her health and housing, Izzy and Moonpie were well taken care of by Dogs Matter. Thanks to the support of donations from supporters of Dogs Matter, Izzy was given emergency veterinary care over the holidays and has made a wonderful recovery. Though they had a peaceful stay at their temporary foster home, Izzy and Moonpie were restless to get back to Sunny, and luckily they didn’t have to wait long!
Although their foster stay could have been as long as six months, Sunny worked tirelessly to find housing that would allow her to take Izzy and Moonpie back, and she did it! After a little over a month apart, Izzy, Moonpie, and Sunny reunited in a tear-jerking scene full of wagging tails!
Support Doesn’t End There—How Dogs Matter Provides Continued Care To Pet Owners in Recovery
The recovery journey doesn’t end when you return from rehab or find housing. Often those first few weeks and months are the most difficult, and it’s important to give yourself grace, take things slow, and ask for support. Dogs Matter offers all their clients continued care after treatment for up to a year including peer-to-peer coaching, vet appointment and care assistance, pet food, training, boarding, and much more.
When Izzy and Moonpie reunited with Sunny they were dropped off with toys and other supplies, and thanks to the generosity of donors and the Dogs Matter program, Sunny and her pups will continue to have the support they need to stay together. Congratulations, Sunny—you should be proud of yourself and your hard work, here’s to a beautiful life!
You can help people and their pets like Sunny, Izzy, and Moonpie by choosing to donate to Dogs Matter, visiting a local pet food bank and donating, or reaching out to your local mutual aid programs supporting people experiencing addiction and homelessness.
