Loving Pup Reunited With Homeless Puppy Who She Had Adopted As Her Own Years Before

Jan 31, 2019

Have you witnessed anything more heartwarming than seeing one dog make themselves responsible for the care and safety of another? Probably not. This is why the internet is falling in love with a pit bull named Piper after the dog adopted a small puppy and treated it as if it were her own.

The puppy's name is Charlie and he met Piper shortly after finding himself in a shelter for abandoned dogs at the age of two months. Charlie was adorable. He desperately needed a home he could call his own. Kristina Helfer was a volunteer at the shelter while Charlie was a resident. She decided to take the puppy home with her.

Kristina already had Piper in her home. She says the connection between the two was immediate as soon as Charlie walked through the door. 

Piper doted over Charlie, showed patience with the playful ways of the puppy, and did not get upset when Charlie tried to suckle her. Charlie learned all he needed to know about being a young dog under the tutelage of Piper and Kristina.

However, the day came where he would have to leave for his permanent family.

Four years passed before the two dogs would see each other again. The play session that resulted might cause you to shed a tear or two. Do not be embarrassed. 

Kristina Helfer coordinates adoptions for a shelter in New Jersey called Wise Animal Rescue. She has also used her own home as a foster home for many dogs over the years.

Piper has always been a chill dog and plays well with the other dogs Kristina brings to the home.

However, Charlie was the first of the dogs with whom Piper truly formed a bond.

Charlie's original owner turned the puppy over to the Liberty Humane Society. The year was 2015 and Kristina was doing volunteer work at Liberty. Shortly after meeting Charlie, he became the fourth foster dog Kristina took to her home.

She said she was a little sad when she first saw Charlie try to suckle Piper. Kristina explains this is a sure sign a puppy was separated from his mother before it is time.

Kristina says Piper always tolerated the other dogs she brought to the home but did not fall in love with any of them. She explains she could see there was something different about the relationship between Piper and Charlie from day one.

Kristina says Piper showed a level of love and patience to Charlie that can only be expected by a mother.

Kristina smiles while explaining how Charlie loves to sit on Piper's head. She explains the pup would walk over to his adopted mother and sit on her head several days each day.

It was difficult for Kristina to allow Charlie to leave after he and Piper became so close. However, she knew she needed to make room for the next dog in need of a short-term home.

Charlie's new family renamed him Riker and Piper was without her adopted son. However, Piper was no lonely for very long.

Kristina provided a temporary home to other foster dogs over the years and eventually made a permanent adoption. The new addition to the family was a pit bull named Frank. Piper helped Frank just as she had done for Charlie.

Kristina explains Piper has a way about her that brings calm to the other dogs. She credits Piper with being the reason Frank has adjusted so well to his new surroundings.

A few years later, Piper was given the opportunity to reunite with her first adopted son.

As soon as Piper and Charlie made eye contact they recognized each other. Charlie ran to Piper and immediately licked her head and face. It seemed as if they had not spent one day apart.

The bond between the two dogs was as strong as ever. And even though they have both moved on to lives that include other family members, their bond will last forever.

Kristina says watching the bond the two dogs formed in a little over a month was one of the special moments in her life.

Frank seems to have adopted some of the loving nature of Piper. He made headlines himself a short time ago when he became a friend and protector to a blind chihuahua of advanced age.

Frank is an anxiety sufferer and struggles to interact with other dogs. But he bonded easily with Tito. Frank would carry Tito around on his back and for all practical purposes became his service dog.Tito eventually succumbed to age and illness but it was not long until Kristina brought another dog home. This time it was a Yorkie who was now deaf.

Both Frank and Piper were happy to greet the new addition to the family.

What did you think about Piper and Charlie's reunion and them helping so many other dogs? Let us know! Show this article to the dog lovers on your friend's list to spread the story of animal love.