Woman reunited with missing rescue dog after 3-year search

An Aurora woman has been reunited with her rescue dog after spending three years searching for it.

Lorrie Savage adopted a toy poodle she named Oliver from the National Mill Dog Rescue three years ago.

“It was love at first sight. I was like that’s it, that’s him. I am supposed to have him,” said Savage.

Oliver followed Savage around everywhere and the two were inseparable. One night three years ago, Savage stepped inside to check on dinner and Oliver escaped through the fence.

“We still don’t know how he got out of the fence. I honestly believe he was looking for me,” said Savage.

A neighbor spotted him and tried to pick him up. However, Oliver’s past at a puppy mill made him skittish so he bolted into a nearby field.

Savage’s family spent the night searching for him. In the days after, they hung posters and contacted shelters. She created a Facebook page and posted about Oliver daily.

“I could not just let him go. I felt so compelled,” said Savage.

Over the years, people sent her tips. She would drop everything to go search each area that Oliver was potentially spotted. However, Oliver never showed up.

Last week, a woman brought the poodle to a rescue group’s event at PetCo. She said she had adopted him from the Dumb Friends League in Denver three years ago. Now she is moving to Europe and can’t take him.

A volunteer at the event recognized Oliver from Savage’s Facebook posts and the rescue contacted Savage.

“I didn’t want to tell anyone I was going to see him because I didn’t want to jinx it and I didn’t want them to think, there she goes again on a wild goose chase,” said Savage.

But after three years, Savage finally found what she was looking for.

“It’s heaven. It’s a dream come true,” said Savage.

Now the poodle and Savage are back together at her Aurora home. She credited her determination and help from strangers on social media for spreading awareness and eventually bringing him home.

“That’s what I hope people take from this. They know there is hope. I never did give up hope. I never did,” said Savage.