“We are blown away.”
For Sheri and Dave Hogue of Memphis, Labrador retrievers have always held a special place in their hearts. The couple regularly fosters dogs through Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption, hoping to give animals in need a second chance.
But one foster story turned into something far more surprising than they ever expected.
A Dog Who Reminded Them of Their Beloved Bella
In July 2024, Sheri received a message from the rescue’s president, Kathy Martin. The text included a photo of a stray Labrador who had ended up in a shelter in Kentucky.
Martin wrote that the dog reminded her of the Hogues’ beloved dog Bella.
Bella had been adopted by the couple more than ten years earlier, and when she later passed away from cancer, the loss was devastating.
Sheri described Bella as their “soul dog.”
When the Hogues saw the photo of the frightened Labrador in the shelter, they didn’t hesitate — they immediately agreed to foster her.
A Nervous Dog Begins to Heal
When the dog arrived from Kentucky, it was clear she had been through a lot. She was nervous, withdrawn and emotionally exhausted.
The couple named her Honey, and slowly, with patience and love, she began to change.
Over time, Honey started wagging her tail again and even smiling — something the Hogues hadn’t seen at first.
Before long, the couple realized they couldn’t part with her.
They adopted Honey and welcomed her permanently into their home.
Another Rescue Arrives
Months later, in April 2025, Sheri saw another post from Lucky Lab Rescue.
This time it was about a sick yellow Labrador who desperately needed a foster home. The dog had multiple health issues and had also been found as a stray in Kentucky.
Sheri’s heart broke for her.
At around 2:30 a.m., she woke her husband and told him she thought they needed to help again.
The couple drove to Indiana to pick up the dog and brought her home on Easter Sunday.
They named her Poppy.
Instant Sisterly Bond
From the moment Poppy arrived, something special happened.
She and Honey bonded immediately.
The two dogs slept together, followed each other everywhere and often curled up in a pile like puppies.
The Hogues couldn’t help noticing how similar the dogs were — not just in appearance, but also in personality.
Both had been found as strays in Kentucky, and the couple began wondering if there might be some connection between them.
The DNA Test Surprise
Curious, the Hogues decided to try something they had never done before: a dog DNA test.
They used a test from Embark Veterinary to see if the two dogs shared any relatives.
When the results arrived, the couple could hardly believe what they saw.
Honey and Poppy weren’t just related.
They were sisters.
A Reunion Meant to Be
The discovery left the Hogues stunned. Two dogs rescued months apart from different places had somehow found their way back to each other.
For the couple, the moment felt like more than coincidence.
After everything the dogs had been through, they were now safe, healthy and together again.
The Hogues say caring for Honey and Poppy has brought them incredible joy — especially knowing the two sisters get to spend the rest of their lives side by side in a loving home. 🐕🐕