Pet Dog Kidnapped in Hamas Attack on October 7 Miraculously Rescued from Gaza — Teddy Returns Home

Teddy, the Golden Retriever kidnapped during the October 7 Hamas attack, was rescued from Gaza nearly two years later.

In an extraordinary twist of fate, a much-loved family dog has been reunited with his owners nearly two years after being kidnapped during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

The dog, a Golden Retriever named Teddy, disappeared from the kibbutz of Nir Oz during the early hours of the attack, when militants stormed the community, abducted dozens of residents, and left destruction in their wake. Teddy’s owners, already facing unimaginable personal loss, believed their loyal companion had been killed or lost forever.

On that chaotic morning, residents described the air filled with the sound of explosions and gunfire. People ran for cover, grabbing children and elderly relatives, while pets scattered in confusion. Teddy, known for his unwavering loyalty and gentle temperament, likely stayed close to the action — a decision that would lead to his abduction.

For months after the attack, Teddy’s family searched desperately for any trace of him. Flyers were distributed, animal shelters were contacted, and soldiers stationed near the border were shown his photograph. Yet as the weeks turned into months, hope began to fade. “We told ourselves he must be gone,” one family member said. “It was too painful to imagine him still out there and alone.”

That hope was unexpectedly reignited earlier this summer. During a routine search operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli soldier spotted a golden-coated dog moving slowly through the rubble. At first, the animal kept its distance, but when the soldier called out in Hebrew, the dog’s ears perked up. Moments later, Teddy trotted forward cautiously, tail wagging as if he recognized something familiar.

“It was like he knew we were there to help,” the soldier later recalled. “He was tired and a little thin, but you could see right away he had once been cared for and loved.”

For several days, the soldier kept Teddy close, sharing rations and sleeping beside him to keep him calm. When the mission concluded, Teddy was brought back into Israel, where a veterinarian scanned his microchip. Within seconds, his true identity flashed on the screen — he was the long-missing pet from Nir Oz.

The call to Teddy’s family came quickly. “When they said they had found him, I almost couldn’t believe it,” his owner said. “I kept thinking it was some kind of mistake, that maybe it was just a dog that looked like him. But when I saw him… there was no doubt.”

The reunion was nothing short of emotional. As soon as Teddy spotted his family, he broke into a run, barking with excitement. His owners dropped to their knees, wrapping their arms around his neck, laughing and crying at the same time. “It was like a part of our life that had been missing suddenly came back,” one said.

In Teddy’s absence, the family had adopted another dog to help fill the void. Now, the two dogs have become fast friends, playing together in the garden and often curling up in the same bed. “It’s like they’ve known each other forever,” his owner said.

Veterinarians believe Teddy’s survival over the past 18 months is remarkable. “Golden Retrievers are social, human-oriented animals,” one explained. “For a dog like that to endure such a long period in a conflict zone and still be healthy enough to reunite with his family is extraordinary.”

For the people of Nir Oz, Teddy’s return has brought a rare moment of joy and hope to a community still struggling to rebuild. His story is already being shared widely online, where many are calling it “the miracle of Nir Oz.”

His owners say they will never know exactly what Teddy went through in Gaza or how he managed to find his way to safety. But they are certain of one thing — they will make the rest of his life as safe, comfortable, and full of love as possible.

“Teddy coming home reminds us that even after so much loss, there can still be light,” his owner said quietly. “And sometimes, miracles really do happen.”