The Heartwarming Story of Ziggy, the Dog Who Gave His Family a “Second Chance”

When a Dog Becomes Family

Nine years ago, Jillian Reiff and her husband adopted Rufus, a chihuahua-rat terrier mix, from the San Francisco SPCA. Rufus quickly became more than just a pet—he was family.

“He was there for everything,” Jillian told The Dodo. “He was part of our proposal. He came to our wedding in a little tuxedo. He was there when we found out we were having kids, and he was the first to meet them.”

For over a decade, Rufus brought joy, love, and energy into their home. Even at 16 years old, he was still playful, still full of life. But in April, everything changed. Rufus suddenly became ill, and a vet diagnosed him with a ruptured gallbladder. Given his age, there was nothing they could do.

That same night, April 5, devastated and unable to sleep, Jillian and her daughter scrolled through adoption pages. That’s when her daughter stopped and gasped: “Mom, look at this dog.”

Jillian thought it was a photo of Rufus. But it wasn’t—it was Ziggy.

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Meeting Ziggy

Ziggy looked almost identical to Rufus: same head tilt, same fur color, same quirky ears. It was uncanny.

Driven by instinct, Jillian contacted the San Francisco shelter and arranged to meet him on April 9—just days after losing Rufus.

“When Ziggy walked into the room, it was like the air changed,” Jillian recalled. “We adopted him within 10 minutes.”

From the moment Ziggy arrived at his new home, he acted as if he had always lived there. “He jumped out of the car, ran up the stairs, and walked right in like he owned the place,” Jillian said.

Over time, the similarities between Rufus and Ziggy became impossible to ignore.

A DNA Test That Changed Everything

In June, Jillian decided to take a DNA test through Embark, a service that can identify breeds and genetic relatives.

The results? Both Rufus and Ziggy were 50% chihuahua and 50% rat terrier. But then came the shock: in the “relatives” section, Rufus was listed as Ziggy’s father.

“I thought it was a mistake,” Jillian admitted to The Washington Post. “I figured it might be a distant cousin or something. But no—it was Rufus. My Rufus.”

The family was overwhelmed with tears and laughter. In a way, it felt as if Rufus had found a way to come back to them.

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Piecing Together the Mystery

Determined to learn more, Jillian started investigating Ziggy’s past. She discovered he had been rescued as a stray in March by Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco.

“We’re still trying to connect the dots,” Jillian explained. “We don’t know if Rufus and Ziggy ever crossed paths or if it was just fate. But somehow, they’re connected.”

For Sherri Franklin, founder of Muttville, the story is nothing short of magical. “Nothing has ever amazed me more,” she said. “This is destiny. The universe works in mysterious ways.”

A Second Chance at Love

For Jillian and her family, Ziggy has done more than fill the void Rufus left behind—he’s brought them an extraordinary gift.

“This isn’t just a happy ending,” Jillian said. “It’s the craziest, most beautiful ending you could ever imagine. Rufus somehow gave us a piece of himself back. And we’re so grateful.”