Lost Therapy Dog Reunited
with Family

On July 4 a family from Loudoun County brought their seven-month-old Newfoundland, Luna, to the Washington Mall for the fireworks celebration. Luna was being trained as a therapy dog to help the family's two autistic children. When the fireworks began, Luna bolted. The family searched for her until 1:00 a.m. without success. The next morning they began calling animal shelters in the area to report Luna missing.

One of the calls they made was to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. At the time the League did not have Luna and had not received any calls from anyone who had seen her. But at about 6:00 p.m.the U.S. Park Police called to report finding a dog in the parking lot of Theodore Roosevelt Island. An Animal Control Officer responded and found that the dog matched Luna's description. She immediately called the family, and later that night the family joyously reclaimed their beloved companion.

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Read about the happy ending