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‘I Screamed': Woman Finds Out Rescue Dog Is Dad Of Her Late Pet
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A San Francisco family was stunned to discover that their newly adopted rescue dog is the biological father of their late pet.
A touching story from San Francisco has gone viral, bringing tears and smiles to people all over the internet. According to a report by People, a local family discovered something unbelievable about a rescue dog they adopted—and the twist is so emotional, it feels like something out of a movie.
Their new pet turned out to be the biological father of their late dog.
The Reiff family was heartbroken when their beloved dog Rufus passed away suddenly in April. Jillian Reiff, who adopted Rufus—a rat terrier-Chihuahua mix—from the San Francisco SPCA in 2016, shared how much he meant to them. 'He was there when my husband and I were engaged. When we got married at city hall, he was in our pictures," she told People.
Rufus had been a part of the family's life for years, and his death deeply affected Jillian and her children, 6-year-old Maya and 4-year-old Benjamin. The kids had grown up with Rufus and didn't know life without him.
The Reiffs had fostered many animals over the years, but this time they weren't sure they were ready to adopt again.
Still, life had other plans. Just four days after Rufus passed away, Jillian and her daughter Maya saw a post on Instagram from Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. The photo was of a dog who looked almost exactly like Rufus.
Even though Jillian had planned to take a break before adopting again, she told ABC7, 'It was just kismet that they looked alike. I think the longer I sat with him. the more There was a feeling I could not explain."
She rushed to the shelter, met the dog, and brought him home. They named him Ziggy.
Once Ziggy was part of the family, Jillian began to notice things—small behaviours and expressions that reminded her of Rufus. Curious and a little unsettled, she decided to have Ziggy's DNA tested through Embark, a dog DNA testing company.
The results left her completely shocked.
'They were an identical DNA match. Ziggy was Rufus's biological father," Jillian also said. 'I screamed. I screamed at my job in my conference room. I almost passed out," she told People.
Even though Rufus is no longer with them, the family believes that a piece of him lives on in Ziggy.
'I don't know that I can express what this has meant to us," Jillian told ABC7. She added that Ziggy's arrival has been nothing short of a miracle. No dog can replace Rufus—but Ziggy has brought healing, comfort, and a truly magical connection.
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Delhi, India, India
First Published:
July 20, 2025, 11:30 IST
News viral 'I Screamed': Woman Finds Out Rescue Dog Is Dad Of Her Late Pet
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