Abandoned Puppy Turns Into the Angel a Sad Older Man Prayed For

When his neighbor Tom rushed over with news of a dead dog on the highway, George felt the ground disappear beneath his feet, his heart shattering into a thousand tiny pieces.

The relief at discovering it wasn’t Max was immediately followed by guilt. He couldn’t leave another creature unmourned, so he buried the unknown dog, saying a prayer for its family wherever they were.

The missing posters he put up around town told their own story of love and loss:

MISSING: MAX.
Beloved family member. Black & white dog with star-shaped patch on chest.
Reward: A home-cooked meal & endless gratitude.
Contact: George, Door No. B12, Elm Street, Willowbrook.

Some people smiled sympathetically at the modest offer, but George’s famous pot roast was all he had to give. When nobody contacted him, George pushed open the heavy doors of the police station, clutching Max’s favorite chew toy in his trembling hands.

“He’s my only family…” The desk sergeant barely looked up from his computer as George explained his situation, his voice quavering with desperation. A few officers lounging nearby exchanged smirks.

“Sir,” the sergeant sighed, “we’ve got three ongoing missing persons cases, two armed robberies, and a hit-and-run to solve. We can’t spare resources to look for a dog that probably just ran away.”

One of the officers chuckled. “Maybe he found himself a girlfriend!” he said, drawing snickers from his colleagues. George’s shoulders slumped, each laugh feeling like a knife in his heart. He turned to leave, his cane scraping against the linoleum floor, when a gentle voice called out.