When San Diego police Officer Andre Thomas was called to investigate a stolen car last month, he didn’t find the thief, but he did find a new friend in need of some help, KTLA sister station KSWB reported Monday.
At the time, the loss of Thomas’ beloved yellow Labrador, Melakai, was still fresh. Melakai died in March after more than a decade by Thomas’ side.
The two moved together from Fresno to San Diego when Thomas was just 18 years old, and they were so close that the officer swore he’d never get another dog when the Lab passed away.
But that changed in a hurry on Oct. 7, when Thomas peered through the window of a stolen car and found a frightened yellow Lab staring back at him.
Thomas scooped up the pup and took it to San Diego Humane Society, hoping its owners would reclaim the dog. Three weeks went by and nobody came.
That’s when Thomas decided his policy on new pets had a little wiggle room — he headed back to the shelter to collect a new companion, unable to deny a dog of the same breed as his beloved Melakai.
“The two have been best friends ever since,” said an Instagram post from the city of San Diego.
Thomas named the dog Victor, “a name worthy of the adversities the dog has overcome,” the caption read.
Thomas, who has served San Diego Police Department for four years, works in the Central Division, patrolling neighborhoods including East Village, Golden Hill and the Gaslamp Quarter.
Now when he comes home, he has a furry friend to greet him again.
