GROSSE POINTE PARK, Mich. – An incredible story involving a beloved dog, a rescue and a DNA discovery has gone viral, capturing attention in People magazine, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.
The Reiff family from California—Jillian and Matthew, their children Benjamin and Maya—had a dog, Rufus, unexpectedly die in April.
Shortly after, the family adopted Ziggy. Maya was the one who discovered the dog and asked her parents why Ziggy looked just like Rufus.
Jillian, who was born and raised in Grosse Pointe Park, and her children decided to visit Ziggy and instantly fell in love.
They brought Ziggy home and noticed some strange similarities between him and their previous dog.
According to the family, Ziggy can sing, talk, and has similar habits to Rufus, saying it’s as if he never left.
Jillian said she had a DNA test done on Ziggy to determine his breed and understand his health history, as he is an older dog. Through the DNA testing, she found that Ziggy is Rufus’ biological father.
The Reiff family shared their story on Local 4 Live on July 25, while they were back in Michigan visiting relatives. You can watch their full interview at the beginning of this article.