How a trail of socks led one 93-year-old man to his missing best friend
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Sometimes, the strongest bonds can lead to the most remarkable reunions. When a beloved pet goes missing, hope can fade quickly, especially after days turn into weeks.
Yet even in those moments, love and loyalty have a way of guiding the lost back home.
One elderly man’s story proves that something as simple as a familiar scent can make all the difference.
Norm Feigenbaum, a 93-year-old dog owner, was left heartbroken when his seven-year-old rescue lab, Sunny, vanished after he left for a grocery run.
According to ABC News, Sunny had apparently scaled the backyard wall, likely trying to follow Feigenbaum down the street.
“After several days, I really thought she was gone,” he said, describing how quiet his home felt without her.
Determined not to give up, Feigenbaum reached out to Dog Days Search and Rescue, a volunteer team that quickly launched a search operation to bring Sunny home.
The group distributed posters that tugged at hearts across the community, reading, “93 year old owner missing his best friend!” and “do not chase!”
Their efforts soon paid off when someone spotted Sunny in a nearby nature preserve about a mile from Feigenbaum’s home.
Also read: How a chance friendship between a young woman and an elderly neighbor captured the internet’s heart
The team knew the area posed dangers—including coyotes and limited access to water—so they began setting safe traps to capture her gently. But it wasn’t until they used Feigenbaum’s own unwashed socks that the plan truly worked.
“The whole thing is probably due to my smelly socks, actually,” Feigenbaum joked in an interview.
Volunteers lined a trail of his socks leading into one of the humane traps, banking on the idea that Sunny would follow her owner’s scent.
Sure enough, the clever dog did just that, and within thirty minutes, she was found safe and sound. Dog Days volunteers brought Sunny to a vet for treatment for minor scrapes and bruises before finally reuniting her with Feigenbaum.
When the pair saw each other again, Sunny wagged her tail furiously and leaned into her owner’s arms for head rubs and cuddles.
The reunion brought tears and laughter to everyone who witnessed it, marking the end of a stressful few weeks.
Also read: After 76 years of friendship, two lifelong best friends share a touching reunion
Feigenbaum even joked that he might hang those dirty socks on his wall as a reminder of how they brought his best friend back.
What started as a heartbreaking loss became a story of patience, scent, and a friendship that refused to fade.
Read next:
Even the simplest things can hold powerful meaning when it comes to love and loyalty. In this case, a few smelly socks were enough to bring joy back into one man’s life. It’s a story that shows how far people will go for the ones they love—even the four-legged kind. Would you ever try a trick like this if your pet went missing?
Yet even in those moments, love and loyalty have a way of guiding the lost back home.
One elderly man’s story proves that something as simple as a familiar scent can make all the difference.
Norm Feigenbaum, a 93-year-old dog owner, was left heartbroken when his seven-year-old rescue lab, Sunny, vanished after he left for a grocery run.
According to ABC News, Sunny had apparently scaled the backyard wall, likely trying to follow Feigenbaum down the street.
“After several days, I really thought she was gone,” he said, describing how quiet his home felt without her.
How a trail of socks led one 93-year-old man to his missing best friend. Image source: Jisu Han / Unsplash
Determined not to give up, Feigenbaum reached out to Dog Days Search and Rescue, a volunteer team that quickly launched a search operation to bring Sunny home.
The group distributed posters that tugged at hearts across the community, reading, “93 year old owner missing his best friend!” and “do not chase!”
Their efforts soon paid off when someone spotted Sunny in a nearby nature preserve about a mile from Feigenbaum’s home.
Also read: How a chance friendship between a young woman and an elderly neighbor captured the internet’s heart
The team knew the area posed dangers—including coyotes and limited access to water—so they began setting safe traps to capture her gently. But it wasn’t until they used Feigenbaum’s own unwashed socks that the plan truly worked.
“The whole thing is probably due to my smelly socks, actually,” Feigenbaum joked in an interview.
Volunteers lined a trail of his socks leading into one of the humane traps, banking on the idea that Sunny would follow her owner’s scent.
Sure enough, the clever dog did just that, and within thirty minutes, she was found safe and sound. Dog Days volunteers brought Sunny to a vet for treatment for minor scrapes and bruises before finally reuniting her with Feigenbaum.
When the pair saw each other again, Sunny wagged her tail furiously and leaned into her owner’s arms for head rubs and cuddles.
The reunion brought tears and laughter to everyone who witnessed it, marking the end of a stressful few weeks.
Also read: After 76 years of friendship, two lifelong best friends share a touching reunion
Feigenbaum even joked that he might hang those dirty socks on his wall as a reminder of how they brought his best friend back.
What started as a heartbreaking loss became a story of patience, scent, and a friendship that refused to fade.
Read next:
- A friendship that began in the ‘70s through letters ends with a reunion 51 years later
- Struggling to make friends as an adult? Discover the surprising ways 7 people built meaningful connections!
Even the simplest things can hold powerful meaning when it comes to love and loyalty. In this case, a few smelly socks were enough to bring joy back into one man’s life. It’s a story that shows how far people will go for the ones they love—even the four-legged kind. Would you ever try a trick like this if your pet went missing?
