A dog kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7, 2023 attacks has been found by IDF forces in Gaza and reunited with her family, a year and a half after she was taken.
Billy the Cavalier King Charles spaniel belonged to Rachel Dancyg, the ex-wife of the late Holocaust historian Alex Dancyg. Alex was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the attacks and later murdered in captivity.
Billy, who is three and a half years old, was discovered by a Golani Brigade in the area around Rafah.
Speaking to Channel 12, Aviad Shapira, a reservist who has served more than 300 days in Gaza since the start of the war, recalled the moment his unit discovered the beloved pet.
Billy reportedly approached the brigade when she heard them speaking Hebrew and ran into Shapira’s arms. He took care of the spaniel for the next four days, insisting he must bring her back with him to Israel.
The soldier spent the Passover Seder with his family, accompanied by Billy, before taking her to the vet, who tested her microchip implant and identified her as belonging to the Dancyg family.
He returned her to her original family today in a touching reunion.
Speaking to Ynet, Dancyg’s son-in-law, Yaron Maor, said: “We are in complete shock and overwhelmed with emotion to see her tomorrow.
“We didn’t believe she had survived. We got the kids another dog of the same breed. Now the two dogs will live together with us. It’s a miracle from heaven.”
