Lucia, a one-year-old German Shepherd mix, was rescued as a street dog in Puerto Rico in July. Echo Keif, a Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation foster parent living in Annandale, welcomed Lucia into her home.

Lucia was adopted in October, but about a week later, Echo learned that Lucia had traveled to Tennessee with her new mother, but had jumped a fence and was now lost in the deep woods of Greenville, Tennessee. After a few days of helping the new owners remotely, Echo decided to make the trip to Tennessee to help in the search. She drove eight hours on Nov. 21, despite the fact that she had to be back the next evening. Lucia had bonded with Echo’s dog Mamah, so Mamah came along on the trip. Echo and Mamah started the search at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, dropping flyers everywhere, and finally in the early afternoon, a call came through declaring that Lucia had been found. Echo raced over, and Lucia scampered to her and covered Echo in kisses. The new owners decided that Echo and Lucia were meant to be together. Echo packed Lucia up in the car and brought her back to the D.C. area, where she has formally adopted her.