Prize-Winning Show Dog Vanishes At Airport, Heartwarming Reunion With Owner Recorded 3 Days Later

Apr 01, 2019 by apost team

It's the nightmare of any pet owner, losing your beloved animal. This scenario took place in a very unlikely setting: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

However, there was a happy ending that should warm your heart.

According to WSB-TV, Gale is an American Staffordshire terrier who resides in Amsterdam. She was visiting the United States as part of show dog competitions. With plenty of ribbons and trophies already in her possession, Gale was looking to bring it home as she headed home. Everything seemed set to go according to plan, with her handlers working to get her boarded on the flight.

Then, the unthinkable happened. The airline went to transport Gale's cage to another plane. The only problem was that there was Gale was nowhere to be found.

apost.com

Gale's owners, Floris Van Essen and his wife, were at home in Amsterdam and were understandably petrified knowing their beloved pooch was lost. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines were immediately in touch with the airport staff, who got to work looking for Gale.

"We were out of our minds. You can imagine it's horrific to hear that a dog is gone and nobody knows where she is." Van Essen told ABC news.

Andrew Gobeil, a spokesperson for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, explained to ABC news that Gale had somehow managed to escape his crate and was running around in the airfield. 

 "We have about 4,600 acres of field out there, from the airfield and from the woods area. So we're looking throughout the entire airport." he said.

Days of searching didn't result in anything and it started to seem doubtful that Gale would be reunited with her family. Van Essen emphasized just how much Gale meant to him and his wife, comparing their relationship to that between a parent and their child.

The airport kept up their search and finally got some good news on Tuesday. They had seen Gale. In order to catch her, they baited a trap. It worked, and Gale was back with her beloved owners.

This story is one that is both scary and moving. The idea of losing a loved one this way is unimaginable. However, the efforts of the airport should not go understated. They did all they could to find Gale and they did. The look on both Gale and Van Essen's faces when they reunite shows just how much their bond means to one another.

We are so relieved to see that Gale and her owners were able to continue loving each other. What do you think of this story? Be sure to show it to any dog lovers you know.