@gabrielecorno9: This happened last Thursday at Oakridge Correctional Facility. The man is James Martinez, 34 years old. Serving the final year of a six-year sentence. The dog is Axel, a 7-year-old German Shepherd. James had Axel for eight months before his incarceration. His mother took Axel. But she passed away two years ago. Axel went into foster care. Then to a shelter. Prison chaplain discovered Axel was still in the shelter system. Arranged this reunion through a special visitation program. Security footage shows James sitting at the metal table. Hands clasped. Shaking. Visitation door opens. Volunteer Sarah enters with Axel on leash. Axel sees James. Freezes. Stares. James drops to his knees on the floor. Says one word: "Axel." Axel yanks the leash from Sarah's hand. Runs. Crashes into James. Both go down on the floor. James is sobbing. Deep, body-shaking sobs. Wraps his arms around Axel. Buries his face in Axel's fur. Crying so hard he can't breathe. Axel frantically licking James's face. Checking every inch of him with his nose. Making crying whimpering sounds. The guard standing in the corner turns away wiping his eyes. Prison chaplain Father Michael told us: "James has been a model inmate for six years. Never caused problems. When ! found out his dog was in a shelter and still available, I had to make this happen. James thought Axel had been adopted years ago. Finding out Axel was still waiting destroyed him and gave him hope at the same time." James told us through tears: "Six years. I thought I'd never see Axel again. Thought he'd forgotten me. But the second he saw me, it was like no time had passed. remembered. He still loves me." The shelter is holding Axel until James's release in four months. James's sister has agreed to foster Axel until then. James said: "Axel waited six years in the shelter system. Now he just has to wait four more months. Then we're never separating again." Sometimes forgiveness has four legs and never stopped waiting.

Gabriele Corno

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Friday 11 September 2026 07:15:22 GMT