A heartwarming reunion (Video)

Lanasu Whitner and her husband Tim Whitner were moving from Illinois to Florida and were already on the road when they stopped their SUV at an Indianapolis gas station. While the couple were outside their vehicle getting ready to fill it with gas, three suspects came from behind the truck, jumped inside and drove off. Tim Whitner heard the 4Runner’s engine start, but was helpless to stop it from driving off. “It was going 45 miles per hour through the parking lot and into oncoming traffic,” he said. “I just couldn’t catch him. He was just too fast, so I tried to run.”

Unfortunately, their dog, Wrigley, was inside the car. “He’s trained to sense oncoming seizures and migraine headaches,” the Marine corps veteran said. “He’s my lifeline right now.” A few days later, police found the abandoned 4Runner, but there was no sign of Wrigley. Whitner was distraught having lost her means of support. She had raised Wrigley up since he was just a puppy, and had no idea where he may have been taken, or who had taken him. The couple were planning to build a new life when their plans were suddenly derailed. It’s likely the perpetrators had no idea just how important the dog was. “He’s everything,” Whitner said of Wrigley. “He does everything for me.” Wrigley was able to alert Whitner when she was about to have an episode, and comfort her during those times.

True testimony of unconditional love

Eventually, police were able to track down the 4Runner using a signal from Whitner’s mobile phone. They found the vehicle parked at a Walgreens but the dog wasn’t inside. The dog was microchipped, and the Whitners had offered a $500 for his safe return. Thankfully, they live in a supportive community, too. A resident of Indianapolis’ southeast side spotted Wrigley running loose and alerted the police. The dog was a little shaken up, but no worse for the wear. Watch the video, this is the moment when they meet again, a true testimony to the level of unconditional love shared by dogs and their owners.