Almost a month after a tornado hit Mellott, Indiana, it looks like Rosco Robinson will be going home.
The three-year-old Boxer has taken a very long journey, complete with legal threats and media drama. But despite his family’s fears, it looks like he’ll be home in time for Christmas.
The Robinson family was away at a bridal shower last month when a tornado struck the area. When they got home, the house was damaged and Rosco, who had been tied up outside, was nowhere to be seen.
Rosco was found the next day in the town of Frankfort, about 45 miles from Mellott. He wasn’t hurt, but he didn’t have any tags or other identification on him. He was taken in to the Clinton County Humane Society, which held Rosco for five days before putting him up for adoption. A new family took him home almost immediately.
It wasn’t until early December that the Robinsons discovered what had happened to their beloved dog, and of course they wanted the new owners to return him. At first, they agreed to do so. “Just a couple days later, on Dec. 10, the shelter called me and told me that the lady changed her mind,” Kyla Robinson told a local paper. “We had something horrible happen to us, and it just sucks that we can’t have him home. … I don’t want to take legal action, but I will.”
It turns out that that won’t be necessary. After a lot of media attention, including a video showing Robinson making a tearful appeal, the woman who adopted Rosco has changed her mind. The Robinsons will be able to pick him up at the Humane Society tomorrow morning.
There has been a lot of community support in favor of the Robinsons getting their dog back, and that might be a strong contributing factor to the change in heart. Kyla Robinson says that she doesn’t want anyone to show anger or hostility towards either the adoptive family or the Humane Society. “This lady does have a heart, and she was just thinking of her children too,” Robinson said. “It’s not her fault that Rosco went missing, and I am so thankful that she is giving Rosco back.” As for the shelter, she understands that legally, their hands were tied as soon as the adoption was complete. Robinson says that the Humane Society was very helpful in facilitating arrangements between the two families, and did everything they could.
Our congratulations to both families, and especially to 10-year-old Madison Robinson, who has especially been wanting her dog back for Christmas.
Via Indy Star