65-year-old neighbor's ex-wife surrenders his soul dog while in the hospital, so one neighbor steps up to reunite them permanently, he says: 'I really need to get this man's dog back so he can be happy again'

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Apr 18, 2026 6:45 AM EDT

Every day, they noticed their senior citizen neighbor walking their dog, Willy. But when the 65-year-old neighbor returned from a stint in the hospital, his walks with Willy became dogless - Willy had disappeared. Noticing his sadness, one neighbor took it upon themselves to find Willy, who had been surrendered by the senior citizen's ex-wife without his consent. 

We don't know what we would do if our dog just up and vanished. She is our life, our pride and joy, the thing we look forward to most at the end of the day after work and when we wake up. Our lives would be filled with silence, and not the good kind. The kind that is louder than construction, a void of emptiness that amplifies the sadness lingering in the air. The floors would be cleaner, no barking when there is an unexpected knock on the door, and we wouldn't have anyone pleading for a bite of our dinner, but we wouldn't trade those things, or her, for the world.

This very thing happened to a 65-year-old neighbor below. After some time in the hospital, his dog, Willy, was gone. He used to walk him daily, and you could feel the love between them. Upon his return, he kept his daily walks, but they turned aimless without Willy to guide him. Another neighbor took notice of the 65-year-old neighbor's distress and discovered that his ex-wife had surrendered Willy while he was in the hospital. Unable to live with this, they set themselves on a mission to reunite the two. How hard could it be to find a recently surrendered dog in Bergen County, New Jersey, with just a name and a picture?

They have no connection to this senior citizen and his dog, only the desire to do a good deed and bring back the one thing in this neighbor's life that made his life worth living. We're sure that's exactly what Willy would have wanted, too.

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  • 01

    Finding my neighbor’s dog in a shelter

    Cheezburger Image 10624826624
    via Wander Kash from Pexels

    White Dog Walking in the Pasture

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    Hello, My neighbor was recently hospitalized and released, older gentleman maybe 65. I used to see him walking his dog Willy and I always used to watch them because you can see the love. I
    via Colts1939
  • 03
    now see him walking around aimlessly and I'm like that's weird, where's Willy. Asked around the neighborhood, another neighbor told me his ex wife surrendered the dog to a shelter while he was in the hospital. Couldn't stop thinking about it so I walked over to his
    via Colts1939
  • 04
    place and I said hey, I really want to get Willy back for you, can you help me with any information. Dude starts crying uncontrollably and says how much he misses him but couldn't provide any information on which shelter he was taken to. Doesn't talk to ex wife but
    via Colts1939
  • 05
    I'm assuming she was listed as the emergency contact so she just did what she did.... He's lost weight, hasn't bathed, all I want to do is find Willy and bring him back, he can stay with me, and he can still see his pup everyday.
    via Colts1939

  • Even if the 65-year-old man wasn't fit to take care of Willy anymore, he's prepared to take Willy in and let them see each other, which is probably the kindest thing you could ever do. It's very possible that the reason Willy was surrendered was because he wasn't fit to take care of him anymore, but that should still have been something that was discussed with him. Just taking away his dog without his knowledge is pure evil.

  • 06
    How hard is it to find a dog with just a name and age? The dog is not a purebred, a mutt. I really need to get this man's dog back so he can be happy again. I work from home and I am financially well enough to take care of the pup. Thanks for any info or any direction to the right path. Bergen County, NJ is the location.
    via Colts1939
  • 07
    LOST DOG 'My god I hope [I] find his dog' Cai and white spots 100 REWARD
    via AndreyPopov

    Lost Dog Poster

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 08
    BraveWarrior-55 Ask your neighbor for a picture of the dog and go to each of the shelters in your area. Ask if he was chipped which would make it really easy. Maybe he can even share his ex's contact number so you can ask her and tell her you would like the dog?
    via BraveWarrior-55
  • 09
    Slow-Pollution2953 Okay, I have to say it. Free Willy! Now, as to finding the shelter, you should be able to look up the shelters in your area and visit them. Since you know what the dog looks like, it shouldn't be hard to find him (if he's still there). If you can find out the date the ex-wife surrendered the dog, that would help.
    via Slow-Pollution2953
  • 10
    Zealousideal_You6901 oh my god that is the most horrible story i have ever read. that poor man, thank god he has you. call every pound and shelter in the exs area and yours. would there be court docs on what was agreed between them too, maybe its
    via Zealousideal_You6901
  • 11
    noted in them. could you find out where she lives and preted to make friends with her adn find out or go to her hosue and offer her money for the information. i hope to god the dog is still alive. she is an evil boch
    via Zealousideal_You6901
  • 12
    Wilberbedford My god i hope you find this dog. Also fk his ex wife.
    via Wilberbedford
  • 13
    Cheezburger Image 10624826880
    via Zbynek Pospisil

    Woman choosing dog from animal shelter. Pet adoption.

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  • 14
    Electronic_Many_7721 I doubt she took him far. Do either of you have pic. If not, write a good description. Go around to all the shelters and hand them the pic/description. and ask if you can look at their dogs. Ask if there is somewhere he could have been placed, such as with a dog rescue. They will be familiar with the rescues and can probably give you contact info.
    via Electronic_Many_7721
  • 15
    If nothing, check near the Ex"s area if you can get her address. Shelter may only do an 8 day hold so go soon. I wish you luck. This is really nice of you to do for him. Come back on this thread and let us know how it goes.
    via Electronic_Many_7721
  • 16
    FruitPug Petharbor.com can help you search for shelter dogs. Look at lost, found, available, everything.
    via FruitPug
  • 17
    Hate to say it but owner surrenders don't necessarily get the minimum 3-4 days that strays do. May have been euth'ed that day.
    via FruitPug
  • 18
    Baxter16-5 My god but you are a good person. I sure hope you find this pup.
    via Baxter16-5
  • 19
    MaterialMedical7054 Sending all the good vibes your way, I hope Willy is located and reunited with his human soon. So sad, I can't imagine going through that. Heartless ex!
    via MaterialMedical7054
  • 20
    Successful_Image3354 I believe every municipality in Bergen County has an animal control officer. Call your town and ask. Even if they don't have the dog they can tell you who might. Good luck
    via Successful_Image3354
  • 21
    P.S. it's been a while since I was there, but my older son went to Northern Valley Demarest, and I still have a lot of friends in Closter.
    via Successful_Image3354
  • 22
    Separate_Permit_3586 So good to hear theres decent people left in the world. I just lost my bf of seventeen years because I stupidly didnt take him with me on a short trip and my and left him with my ex and hes gone and udk where, its a truly amazing thing your trying to do an I pray you find him cuz I know itd mean so much to both of them, me also as I know to well the hurt he must be feeling.
    via Separate_Permit_3586
  • 23
    silent... That totally sucks I'd be worried you don't have the whole story. You are only seeing things from one side. Sweet neighbor loves his dog. Could you not have the whole story? I'd be worried that this guy is very sick.
    via silentrobotsymphony
  • 24
    She could of surrendered The Dog for 2 reasons 1) neighbors is sick and can't take care of him - you only see one side of it. Esp if he was aimlessly wandering around... Didn't bath. - that's a ▶ that something could be wrong. 2) she was being petty.
    via silentrobotsymphony
  • 25
    I feel like if it was a short hospitalization stay she would have watched the dog. Anything more serious then she would of have to have considered that she didn't want the responsibility of a dog and that is why she surrendered it
    via silentrobotsymphony
  • 26
    I'd only be doing this if you'd be willing to adopt the dog yourself you can go visit the neighbors or also see what you can do talk to the exwife.
    via silentrobotsymphony
  • 27
    In my development we had this sweet older lady Helen. I'd see her from time to time getting her mail. I'd wave. Then all of a sudden. Weird cars in her driver way. Well it turns out Helen had dementia and to go to a nursing home and her family had to sell her house. It took a while for them to get it sellable. Sometimes you just don't know.
    via silentrobotsymphony
  • 28
    UPDATE: Willy was adopted by one of his family members that's out of state, so, not in the shelter (managed to get a phone number from one of the neighbors). I've been thinking about adopting a dog for a while so I think I'll do that and spend time with my neighbor so he can hang with me and a new friend. Thank you to everyone for all of your advice.
    via Colts1939

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surrender dogs neighbors reunited senior doggo ex wife happy animals
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