There’s nothing more heartbreaking than being separated from a beloved pet, but sometimes life situations force us to say goodbye. That was the case for one man, who had to surrender his dog after being diagnosed with cancer.

But two years later, fate brought the two back together again…

In May 2021, Michael Nayler of Ontario, Canada was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. His health rapidly deteriorated, to the point he was no longer able to care for his English mastiff, Minnie.

Nayler made a heartbreaking choice no dog owner should have to make: he surrendered her to the Humane Society of Greater Niagara, hoping to give the dog a better life.

“It wasn’t fair to her,” he told CBC. “She wasn’t getting her runs in and playing outside … I could see a change in her.”

The shelter was moved by Nayler’s selfless sacrifice on behalf of his dog. Minnie had a hard time adjusting to life in the shelter, missing her owner. Nayler continued to check in on his dog to make sure she was okay, until one day Minnie was adopted.

Nayler was devastated, and lost hope thinking his dog was gone for good. He says he fell into a depression and stopped going to treatments. “That’s when I just basically gave up because I knew there was no getting her back,” he said.

But that adoption didn’t work out: months later she was returned to the shelter and placed up for adoption once again. With a second chance, Nayler resolved to get better so he could reunite with his dog.

https://www.tiktok.com/@hsgniagara/video/7431389972004965637