Dog Owner Surrenders Pet During Cancer, 750 Days Later Finds Her at Shelter

The internet has been left sobbing after a man who was forced to give up his dog when he battled cancer was reunited with her in an emotional moment, and it was like she had never even left his side.

Michael Nayler, 45, was diagnosed with a rare form of intestinal cancer in May 2021, and by the summer of 2022, he had deteriorated rapidly. Getting out of bed in the morning was a struggle, let alone taking his beloved dog Minnie, an English mastiff mix, out for a walk.

As his condition worsened, he made the decision to surrender Minnie to the Humane Society of Greater Niagara in October 2022. Nayler, from Ontario, Canada, told Newsweek that “it was the hardest decision” he’s ever made, and it tore him apart. He couldn’t give Minnie the life she deserved, and he only wanted what was best for her.

He never stopped loving her, though, and every Tuesday he would park outside the shelter and watch her play for around 20 minutes. He did that for the next 10 months, just to know that she was alright.

Alexis Woods, an animal care technician at the the Humane Society of Greater Niagara, spent a lot of time with Minnie while she was there. She was so moved by Nayler’s selfless act to surrender her in the hopes of giving her a better life.

“It was heartbreaking when we were told that Minnie’s owner was giving her up due to his cancer diagnosis,” Woods told Newsweek. “This was especially hard as it was very evident how much he loved Minnie and knowing that they were being torn apart by an illness that was out of his control was devastating.”

Minnie clearly missed her owner as she “shut right down” after entering the shelter. She didn’t eat much and struggled to engage with anyone.

When Nayler wasn’t watching from afar, he would often call the shelter just to check in on his beloved dog. Woods spoke with him, and said there was no denying how much he missed her.

After a year in the shelter, Minnie was adopted, and though Nayler was glad she’d found a home, he was crushed. “When I saw that she’d been adopted, I literally gave up fighting,” he said.

Although, it wasn’t meant to be and Minnie found herself back at the shelter months later. Woods explained that she was returned “due to reasons that had nothing to do with her,” and she was put back up for adoption.

In June 2024, Nayler learned that Minnie was back at the shelter and that was the spark he needed to fight for his recovery and to get better. If he could get through his cancer battle, he’d be united with Minnie once more.

He told Newsweek: “When I saw a picture of her back at the shelter, I went from bedridden to gaining some energy. I started seeing my doctors again and after a month, I was looking and feeling better than I had been in the last two years.

“In late August, I was told that things were looking promising, but I got the official news on October 18 and called the Humane society straight away and told them.”

He didn’t waste any time driving over to pick up Minnie and finally take her home, 750 days after surrendering her. Needless to say, there wasn’t a dry eye left in the shelter that day.

‘Like She Never Left’

“When I finally got to hold her in my arms for the first time in two years, there are no words to describe that feeling,” he continued. “That was the best drive home ever, and she’s settled in like she never left. Our house in finally a home again, Minnie makes any obstacle vanish just with her presence.”

Woods was there to witness the special reunion, and it’s a moment she will never forget. There was an immediate shift in Minnie’s demeanor as she went from being a shell of herself, to becoming an “excited little tornado.”

As soon as Nayler knelt down to greet her, Minnie showered him with kisses. It was clear to Woods that “her love for him was as strong as ever.”

An adorable picture of the reunion was shared on Instagram (@hsgniagara) and it’s left so many people trying (and failing) to hold back tears.

Among the hundreds of comments on Instagram, one person responded: “This is an incredible story. We’re so happy for Minnie and her owner!”

Another person wrote: “Excuse me while I sob. What a beautiful story.”

And one Instagram user added: “So happy for them both! Kudos to everyone who made this possible.”

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.