8 months ago
7
SAN FRANCISCO -- If you've ever had a pet, you cognize conscionable however embedded they tin beryllium wrong your family. And to suffer that favored tin beryllium devastating.
That was the lawsuit for 1 California household until a caller summation to their household brought healing successful a mode cipher could person imagined.
Ever since Jillian adopted Rufus from San Francisco SPCA successful 2016, the fractional rat terrier, fractional chihuahua premix has ever been there.
"He was determination erstwhile my hubby and I were engaged. When my hubby and I got joined astatine metropolis hall, helium was successful our pictures," said Jillian. "He was the archetypal to conscionable some of our kids."
Undated representation of the Rufus, who passed distant successful April 2025.
Jillian and her hubby connected their wedding day
Maya and Benjamin, present 6 and 4 years old, didn't cognize a beingness without Rufus.
When Rufus unexpectedly passed distant this April, a heavy spread was near behind.
"We were not acceptable to follow different dog," said Jillian.
Over the years, this dog-loving household has fostered dozens of dogs. Jillian and Maya often scrolling done structure societal media pages, looking astatine dogs that request homes and discussing what benignant of families they whitethorn need.
Just 4 days aft Rufus's death, the mother-daughter duo spotted what seemed similar a acquainted look connected Muttville's societal media pages, a canine that looked conscionable similar Rufus.
Ziggy, who was featured connected Muttville's website.
They rushed down to the elder canine rescue shelter, knowing she had to conscionable him.
"It was conscionable kismet that they looked alike," said Jillian. "I deliberation the longer I sat with him. There was a feeling I could not explain."
There was nary hesitation successful taking him home, overmuch to the astonishment of Jillian's husband!
"Dad was wholly not expecting that!" Maya said.
Jillian with her children, Maya and Benjamin, and Ziggy
Soon, Jillian realized that not lone did Ziggy look similar Rufus, but helium besides exhibited akin mannerisms!
Rufus, left, deceased, and Ziggy are related!
"The mode they attack the kids, the mode they talk, howl, everything astir them was the same," explained Jillian. "I was truthful definite that thing was going on."
On a whim, Jillian submitted Ziggy's DNA for a trial done Embark, a canine DNA test. The results were thing cipher could person imagined.
"They were an identical DNA match. Ziggy was really Rufus's biologic father," said Jillian. "And that they stock a bully chunk of their DNA. I screamed. I screamed astatine my job, successful my league room. I astir passed out!"
DNA results amusement Ziggy is Rufus' father!
Rufus, who passed distant successful April 2025, is Ziggy's son.
Even Muttville's CEO and founder, who has helped prevention implicit 13,000 dogs, was successful disbelief!
"I thought I'd heard everything," said Sherri Franklin. "It's wild. Almost unbelievable!"
While Jillian acknowledges that nary canine volition ever instrumentality Rufus's place, her household is truthful grateful to organizations similar Muttville for giving older dogs similar Rufus and now, Ziggy, a chance.
Rufus and baby
Ziggy
"I don't cognize that I tin explicit what this has meant to us," said Jillian.
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