It’s a reunion more than a year in the making.
A cockfighting raid in Marlboro County last weekend resulted in 27 arrests and more than 120 birds rescued.
Rescuers also found an emaciated dog with her 10 puppies.
“We had people think they seen her but we show up and it’s a different and then boom suddenly there she is on TV,” mentioned Blake Northam.
It was a year’s journey that in a single moment came full circle after Northam and April Morris recognized the dog after News13’s original story.
“Usually we don’t watch news. I’ll ask him to turn it or I’m already asleep and that night for the first time in I don’t know how long we watched it,” explained April.
They both say their dog, Nina, was one of their kids until the unthinkable happened.
“I took her out like normal in the front yard and she always stays in the yard. Went in there made a glass of tea real quick, came back out and she was gone,” Morris said.
The two searched for more than a year after putting out signs and even going on Facebook for help.
“Each day that went by I’m like someone took her because she would come back. She would never leave home like that,” explained Morris.
Little did they know, Nina and her now 10 puppies were rescued Saturday in a cockfighting bust in Marlboro County.
The rescue landed Nina in safe hands and in the hearts of everyone who saw her.
“By the grace of God we happened to be watching the news. And there she is after all this time,” said Northam.
After some tears shed for lost time family and dog, plus 10 were reunited on Tuesday.
“She licked me on the chin like she’s never been gone,” added Northam.
Nina’s owners say she’s still very weak, but getting back to her normal self.
As for her 10 puppies, all are healthy and say they will find them good homes.
