“I was so emotional.”
Nina Love has dedicated her life to saving animals in need. As the founder of The Black Thornberry, a Philadelphia-based rescue organization, she works tirelessly to give abandoned cats, dogs, and other animals a second chance—all while advocating for more diversity in the world of animal rescue.
So when Love received a call about a lone dog spotted deep in the woods, she didn’t think twice before springing into action.
Upon arriving, she quickly realized the frightened pup was wary of humans. Rather than risk scaring her off, Love and her team took a more strategic approach. They set up cameras to monitor her movements and carefully placed a humane trap with food, hoping she would step inside.
“My goal was to provide her with safety and a reliable food source,” Love explained in a video for The Dodo. “I don’t always like using traps, but in this case, it felt like the best option for her well-being.”
The plan worked. When Love saw the pup finally secured inside the trap, a wave of emotion washed over her.
“I was so overwhelmed,” she said.
As she gently approached, she noticed something unusual—the dog was wearing two collars.
“That immediately stood out to me,” Love said. Wanting to find answers, she turned to social media: “Does anyone recognize this dog? She has two collars—someone must be missing her!”
Soon, a friend reached out with a possible lead. A local family had been searching for their missing pet. Could this be their beloved dog?
Comparing photos, the match was undeniable. The dog, named Hannah, had been lost for two months.
After a thorough vet check, Love wasted no time driving Hannah to the reunion she had waited so long for.
The moment they arrived, one of Hannah’s family members ran toward her, tears streaming down her face.
“Hi, baby!” she called out, her voice full of emotion.
As she embraced her long-lost companion, Love wrapped her arms around the woman in support.
“I’m so happy I could help,” Love told her. “She was worth every second.”