Dog Tied To Pole On Highway Finds Forever Home: 'Divine Intervention'

AQUEBOGUE, NY — When a dog was left, tied to a pole, with just a note and some food on a busy Long Island highway recently, her story could have ended tragically. But thanks to an outpouring of love and more than one good Samaritan, the Mastiff, Roxi, has now found her forever home.

Roxi was found tied to a light pole on July 1, on the Southern State Parkway, New York State police said. Officers responded at 5:30 a.m. to the westbound lane near Exit 21, where the white Mastiff was tied by her leash to the pole, police said. A dog bowl was filled with food and a note appeared next to it.

Roxi was taken to the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter for evaluation; she was not microchipped, police said.

What happened next is a testament to the power of new beginnings, love and destiny.

According to Sandy Reeve, she and her husband John, who live in Aquebogue, lost their own beloved Mastiff Hannah two years ago. Devastated and wreathed in grief, they weren't able to even consider a new dog, not yet.

Until they saw Roxi's face on television and knew, in their hearts, that she was meant to become a part of their family.

Dogs have always been woven into the fabric of the Reeves' lives. The couple, who owns the J & S Reeve Cottages on the water in Aquebogue, have long been known by their guests as unequivocally "pet friendly."

It was their son who first wanted a Mastiff, from the time he was a small boy, Sandy said. And over past years, they've had Mastiffs who've held a forever place in their hearts, beginning with Montana — who was, in fact, flown in from Montana to the North Fork.

"She lived a wonderful life," Sandy said. "She loved it here. She'd watch my husband mow the lawn and move into certain spots, where she could see him."

Then came Hannah, her name a nod to the popular television show "Hannah Montana" and a tribute to their beloved Montana.

But from the first, Sandy knew, in her heart, that Hannah wasn't well. She was drinking an inordinate amount of water, she said; but at first, the couple was told that she was fine. After a sea of vet visits and specialists, Hannah was diagnosed with kidney issues.

If love could have saved Hannah, she would have lived the longest of lives. Sandy and John took her home, surrounding her with nurturing and home-cooked meals of chopped meat, sweet potatoes, and brown rice.

But despite their most fierce efforts, Hannah died. She was just 13 months old.

On her last day, the couple brought Hannah to the vet. "That little girl, we had her in the truck; she was just skin and bones," Sandy said. "But, when she heard another puppy bark, she tried with every bit of her might to look out the window — she tried so hard to see that puppy, she wanted to go play."

Their hearts were broken. "We just couldn't get another dog," Sandy said. "It hurt so much to lose her."

Wrapped in loss, the couple lived in a home that echoed with memories of Hannah, no plans for another. Until the night two weeks ago when they turned on the television and saw Roxi's sweet face.

"I swear, it was as though Hannah came back and was reincarnated," Sandy said. "The resemblance was unbelievable."

Her husband turned to Sandy and said, "We have to go get that dog."

But at first, the road ahead seemed daunting.

Touched by Roxie's story, the shelter had received more than 80 applications and 125 calls, with people wanting to adopt Roxi — and Sandy was told they weren't accepting any additional applications.

Something in her heart, though, told her to try, just one more time. Sandy reached out to a man at the shelter and asked if he could please consider just one more application; the staff agreed.

Finally, the number of potential applicants was narrowed down to five, then three, with Sandy and John still in the running.

They were asked to come in for a meet-and-greet. Roxi, they were told, was skittish around men. But when she met John, Roxi took to him easily. "My husband loves dogs, animals," Sandy said. "Everything went well."

Finally, on Monday, July 8, they got the call. "They told us, 'You got her!'" Sandy said.

After she was spayed and greenlighted to leave, the Reeves were able to pick up Roxi this Monday, July 15.

"She is wonderful," Sandy said. "She is such a doll. She can sit, shake hands; she eats well, sleeps through the night. She loves to give us kisses and hugs. She's a wonder."

Reflecting on how Roxi came to be a part of their family, Sandy said she believes completely that it was meant to be. "It's divine intervention," she said.

Roxi, Sandy explained, came with a note and phone number, from the man who had first found her on the highway. He'd been driving to work at 5:20 a.m. that morning when he spotted the Mastiff and stopped to help.

He saw that Roxi was frightened, so he stood three feet away and called police, Sandy said.

Although he really wanted to adopt Roxi himself, he was unable to, living in a studio that didn't allow pets, Sandy said.

As they spoke, Sandy discovered that their paths held similarities: He has worked for the sanitation department for more than 30 years; her husband John was the longtime Riverhead sanitation supervisor for 35 years.

"The whole way, this has felt meant to be," Sandy said.

Sandy told the man that he'd be welcome to come visit Roxi anytime. "He said, 'Oh, I'd love to, I'm so happy,'" she said. He'd wanted to ask, she said. As the two spoke, they pondered what had led Roxi's original owner to leave her there, on the roadway. Some have speculated that an older man, who may have been seen walking a dog like Roxi along the same road, might have been the one to leave her.

But no one knows for sure, and the questions loom: Maybe her owner had life circumstances beyond their control, maybe the shelters were full — and they felt they were without options.

No one may ever know what led Roxie to that highway at just that moment in time. But one thing feels certain, Sandy said. "It's all God. It's divine intervention. God has a plan. I have no idea what it is right now, but all this has happened for a reason."

As for the Reeves, their lives have changed dramatically in the past days, as their hearts opened to welcome Roxi home.

"It's wonderful," Sandy said. "When we lost Hannah, our house was so empty. Now I feel like it's filled up again."