I am thrilled to bring you the news that Annie’s adoptive owners have given Annie back to Chuck Hoage, her devoted owner of many years. It happened early this evening, and word is just getting out. There are few details, save that the family who adopted Annie in July returned her to the shelter so that Hoage could claim her.

It must have been utterly heartwrenching for her adoptive family to give her up. Those who were villifying the family on the Friends of Annie Facebook group (formerly known as Give Annie Back to Chuck Hoage) are now expressing heartfelt gratitude. The family has not come forward, and may never, but as some Dogsters predicted, in the end they did the right thing.

Hoage is hunkering at home tonight with the dog who bolted from his pickup truck earlier this summer after she heard a gunshot on their ranch. Hoage, a recent widow, tried his best to locate Annie, whom he called “my life.” But by the time he got word Annie was at a local shelter, she had been adopted out to a family for a week. The family did not want to give her up.

This stalemate created an outcry in the Central California community where both parties live, and eventually with dog lovers around the world. More than 4,000 joined the Facebook group dedicated to getting Annie reunited with the brokenhearted Hoage. You can read more background about the story in my post from last week.

I’ll update you as we get a few more details. But for now, I just wanted to wish Hoage and Annie sweet dreams for the first night they’ve spent together since June, and to extend my admiration and empathy for the family that made this terribly difficult decision.

Aug. 31 Update: My terrific Dogster tipster, Natalie Fixler, sent me this clip that ran on the local news last night. I like seeing Annie’s little stump wagging like mad! And what Hoage said about Annie looking so pretty really is true. The adoptive family seems to have treated her beautifully, but it looks like Annie is happy to be back at the home that was in her heart for years.