Reuniting with a long-lost sibling is definitely not something that happens every day.
This was the case for a dog named Maddy, who joyfully found her brother, Mozart, after being apart for 13 years.
Before being adopted by different families, Maddy and Mozart enjoyed playing together every day. Now, they have a great deal of fun to make up for.
A New Addition to the Family
In 2011, Mozart was adopted by Ann MacLean, a high school science teacher from Freehold, New Jersey, after the passing of their previous dog, Bogey, a year earlier. While searching for a new furry companion to restore joy, Ann discovered the perfect match.
“I stumbled upon a litter of five eight-week-old puppies available through Paula’s Dog House in Mount Olive, N.J., about 60 miles away. The litter included four males and one female, with two being golden and three black,” MacLean shared with People.
When Ann and her family went to adopt Mozart, they met his sister, Maddy, and immediately fell for her as well.
“Two days later, we reached out to Paula’s Dog House about adopting Maddy too, but found out that someone else had shown interest in her and would be picking her up that weekend. We were saddened but grateful she had a forever home,” Ann recalled.
Assuming she would never see Maddy again, Ann tried to let go of the thought. Yet, destiny had other plans.
A Fortunate Discovery
After bringing Mozart home, Ann opted to use an Embark dog DNA test to uncover her beloved dog’s breed. When the results came in, she found that Mozart was a mix of Labrador Retriever, Chow Chow, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Collie, and Boxer.
The Embark DNA test also provided a relative finder feature, which alerts pet parents if another dog owner submits their dog’s DNA and discovers that they are related.
“In January 2024, I logged into my Embark account for the first time in over a year. The chances of Mozart reuniting with one of his siblings seemed slim since he was now 13 years old. I was overjoyed to discover ‘immediate family’ listed!” MacLean reminisces.
As she explored the site, Ann found Maddy’s profile, which noted her love for running through tall grass and scratching her back in bushes. This immediately confirmed to her that this was Mozart’s sister, as these activities were also Mozart’s favorites.
“I noticed that Sheila [Maddy’s owner] had messaged me a year ago through Embark, so I quickly reached out. We exchanged details about Mozart and Maddy, confirming they were siblings. It felt wonderful to connect,” she said.
As soon as Sheila heard back from Ann, she realized they were on the brink of something extraordinary!
Through text exchanges that blossomed into phone calls, Ann and Sheila discovered just how similar their dogs were. Both pups love frolicking in the snow and do their best to avoid the sun. They also both suffer from hip arthritis.
Upon learning that both lived near Freehold, NJ, and took their dogs to the same vet, they felt compelled to arrange a reunion.
“I was amazed to learn that Mozart’s family lived so close, considering he was adopted from Sussex County, which is about 2 ½ hours north. Knowing of each other made it inevitable that these two would reunite, and living so near makes future meetups much easier. The Universe truly works in mysterious ways!” Sheila remarked.
Reunited at Last
Sheila and Ann concluded that the best setting for Mozart and Maddy’s reunion would be a spacious park where they could play freely.
Upon their initial meeting, the dogs took a moment to acclimatize to one another, and once they recognized their sibling bond, they became the happiest pups imaginable.
Since their reunion, Maddy and Mozart have enjoyed three meetings together, with their owners excitedly planning many more playdates ahead.
“Maddy interacts very differently with Mozart compared to other dogs she has met. She appears calm and accepting, and this behavior strengthens with each encounter,” Sheila noted.
They certainly need more playdates, as they have plenty to reminisce about. It’s clear that, over time, the natural bond between Maddy and Mozart will deepen, showcasing just how connected furry siblings can truly be.
