A man whose dog ran away while he was in a coma has been reunited with the pup thanks to strangers on social media. Bubba Nulisch, 58, was hospitalised with a bacterial infection and put into an induced coma on April 18.
After awaking from his coma three weeks later on May 9, he was desperate to see his four-year-old dog Bullet. However, while in hospital Bubba received a call to tell him his beloved pooch had gone missing from his home in Grand Prairie, Texas, US, on May 22.
Bubba was "inconsolable" when he discovered the disappearance of his "best friend". He had adopted Bullet after being forced to retire from his truck driving job for medical reasons in October 2015 and says the dog pulled him out of a "deep depression".
Bubba took to Facebook and begged strangers to help track down his beloved pet. The pooch was located on June 4 - having been picked up - and placed in foster care.
They were reunited whilst Bubba was in a rehabilitation centre on June 13. Bubba said: "I had been a long-haul truck driver almost my whole life, but I could no longer work for health reasons.
"I was depressed because I couldn't work anymore. I don't like living off the government I'd much rather work but life is what it is. The people I was staying with at the time had a dog who had babies. One of them wouldn't leave my side ever.
"I don't know why but he started hanging out with me, so I adopted him. He was my reason to keep on going. He really helped me through emotionally and brought me so much happiness and joy.
"We hadn't been apart since until he came up missing." When Bubba was informed that his beloved dog had run away while he was in the hospital, he was "devastated".
He immediately took to Facebook and asked for help in lost pet groups in the hope someone had spotted Bullet in the area. He said: "When he came up missing, I was devastated. I was praying that he was safe, and he would be found.
"Him being gone was the hardest part of waking up. I was absolutely heartbroken to think I wouldn't be able to see or touch him again.
"Some of the ladies at the hospital told me about these lost pets Facebook groups so I posted in there." Thankfully on June 4, Bubba found out his beloved dog had been picked up and placed in foster care.
Kim Joppie, 43 - who runs a dog rescue in Dallas, Texas, US - had been in touch with Bubba after seeing his pleas on Facebook and agreed to help him get his dog back. Bullet was then neutered and microchipped, before Kim drove to the rehabilitation hospital Bubba was in to reunite the pair on June 13.
Kim said: "It was a long road to get Bullet back to Bubba, but I knew that he would do anything to get him back. When they were reunited, I can't describe the pure emotion that came from him.
"They were so bonded. It was so beautiful, and I've never seen anything like it." Bubba added: "I thought I was never going to see him again so when I saw him on Facebook, I knew nothing was going to stop me from getting him back.
"I was getting my pup back one way or another. Even if I had to leave the hospital to go to the shelter. I was crying and praying to God. Kim is an angel. I'm so thankful to her for bringing him back to me. I'll never forget what she's done.
"When I saw Bullet again, he dove into my lap. I was so glad to get him back. I can't describe the joy that came over me. He's my best friend." Bubba said that he and Bullet are now back at home safely and are continuing to enjoy watching their favourite TV shows together.
