Cole Bridge and Gabby Dillon rescued Lucy from Hopalong Animal Rescue nearly three years ago. Lucy, a petite, stocky bulldog, rapidly became a favorite member of the family.
“She was so exhausted her first few days with us; she slept all day long and very, very deeply,” Bridge shared. “After a week or so, her sensitive, playful, and incredibly sweet personality started to come out.”
Lucy had a difficult beginning to life. Lucy was discovered alone in an Oakland truck yard, displaying symptoms of recent pregnancy, but her puppies had not been found.
Bridge and Dillon recognized Lucy’s need for extra affection and provided her with a safe and caring home where she could settle in joyfully.
Two years after Lucy was adopted, Bridge and Dillon got a startling message from the animal shelter. They were told of another dog at the rescue that had an eerie likeness to Lucy.
Intrigued by the strange connection, the couple embarked on a journey to uncover the mystery of Lucy’s past.
Bridge said, “We were excited, but also emotional because we’ve always talked about how sad it is that she was separated from her puppies.”
“When we first got her, she used to look under every car we walked by on the street as if she was looking for her puppies that might have been left in the truck yard she was found in. We just couldn’t shake the thought of missing out on bringing one of her puppies back home to her.”
Despite not having confirmed their relationship through DNA testing, Bridge and Dillon felt an undeniable urge for Lucy and Ronnie to meet. Before long, the two dogs were introduced, and the striking resemblance between them was evident.
“We should have filmed their first meeting—it was hilarious,” Bridge said. “It’s like they were looking in a mirror and both realizing how crazy that was. Then, they started hopping around each other, freezing and jumping around more. It was so clear they had their connection that went beyond just liking each other.”
Subsequent DNA tests proved the relationship: Lucy is Ronnie’s mother. Lucy and Ronnie are now reunited and enjoy their days together, reclining on the couch or following the sun for a nice snooze.
Bridge and Dillon see bringing these two rescue puppies into their home as a wonderful and treasured experience.
“After Lucy and Ronnie, there is no way that we’d ever get a dog from anywhere but a shelter,” Bridge shared. “It’s been so special to give Lucy a better life, and now we can do the same for Ronnie too.”
