A heartwarming rescue story from Vermont has captured the attention of animal lovers, as an animal shelter saved a unique trio — two dogs and a cat — found wandering the streets together, bonded by their journey, much like the beloved characters from the movie Homeward Bound.
On March 3, the Central Vermont Humane Society, based in East Montpelier, found the trio — two dogs and one cat — roaming the streets. The animals, now named River, Rain, and Reed, appeared to be closely bonded and were believed to have been traveling together as strays.
The shelter shared their story on social media, drawing a parallel to the 1993 Disney classic Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, which follows a dog and cat duo, Chance and Shadow, as they journey across the wilderness to reunite with their family. “Meet our happy little trio who remind us of that story of endurance and commitment to friends,” the shelter wrote in a heartfelt post.
Erika Holm, co-executive director of the Central Vermont Humane Society, explained that the animals were found together and seemed to share a strong bond. “They were found together as strays,” Holm told local outlet WPTZ. Upon arrival at the shelter, the trio received veterinary checkups and treatments for minor health issues, and their conditions have since improved significantly, particularly River, whose skin had shown notable improvement.
Despite being separated into different areas of the shelter due to space constraints, the trio’s bond remained unbroken. Reed, the black cat, initially struggled with the separation, avoiding other cats and humans. However, when River and Rain were brought to Reed’s room, the trio reunited, sharing head bonks, muzzle rubs, purrs, and cuddles, signaling their close connection.
Soon after, a couple reached out to the shelter expressing interest in adopting all three animals. On March 28, River, Rain, and Reed moved into their new home and entered a foster-to-adopt trial period, with hopes that their new family would continue their journey together.
Holm expressed her joy at the adoption, saying, “We are hopeful somebody has a big space in their heart and their home that these three can fill for them.” She also highlighted the rarity of such a special bond, adding, “How often do you see not only cats and dogs together and love each other, but in their case, [become] loose and stay together?”
This heartwarming story proves that love and friendship can transcend species, with the trio now finding the forever home they deserve.