Two rescue dogs who formed a strong bond during their time at the Bronx Familia Animal Shelter in Crete have been reunited in touching footage.
The dogs, Marley and Julian, were brought together after being adopted into separate homes in Germany. Their heartfelt reunion earlier this week in Hannover left their adoptive families and shelter workers moved to tears.
“Marley and Julian were inseparable when they lived at the shelter. Seeing them reunite was an overwhelming feeling of pure joy. They instantly recognized each other and were so happy to be together again,” Nikos Tsikalakis, owner of the Bronx Familia Animal Shelter, told Newsweek.
Pictures of rescue dogs Marley and Julian who were recently reunited in heartwarming footage.
Bronx Familia Animal Shelter
Marley’s story began when Tsikalakis and a shelter volunteer named Marleen were driving through the village of Kalo Chorio in Greece. “Marley ran across the road, looking very scared and panicked. Despite being terrified, he slowly crawled towards Marleen, who was able to catch him,” Tsikalakis recalled. Marley was brought back to the shelter, where he first met Julian, a young puppy rescued after being found abandoned near a motorway. Julian’s rescuers had been on their way to catch a flight but took the time to drive the puppy to the shelter.
Both dogs thrived under the care of the Bronx Familia Animal Shelter, a non-profit organization on Crete dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming dogs from traumatic pasts. The shelter currently cares for 250 dogs, many of whom have endured unimaginable cruelty. “We have dogs who have been shot, like Dream, who lost his sight after being shot in the face. Others have suffered horrific abuse, like Phoenix, who had his eyes gouged out with a sharp object,” Tsikalakis said.
Eventually, Marley and Julian were adopted into loving homes. Marleen, who had fallen in love with Marley, couldn’t leave Crete without him and brought him back to Germany. Julian found his forever home with Daniel and Johanna, friends of the couple who had initially rescued him.
Although Marley and Julian’s new families kept in touch, the dogs hadn’t had a chance to reunite—until fate brought them all to Hannover. “Marley’s mother, Marleen, and Julian’s parents, Daniel and Johanna, have kept in contact since the airport, but they live far apart, so they hadn’t been able to meet before yesterday,” Tsikalakis said.
The video of their reunion shows Marley and Julian excitedly greeting each other, as if no time had passed. “At the shelter, they were best friends,” Tsikalakis said, “and seeing them so happy together again was absolutely amazing.”
