MALAKOFF (1080 KRLD) - For one North Texas woman desperately looking for her late son's dog, it's an answered prayer.
After Renee Peterson posted pictures of the blue heeler named Milo on Facebook -- a post that had been shared nearly 3000 times -- a dog matching his description showed up in San Antonio.
"He was at someone's house," says Peterson. "He came up into their yard about a week ago.
On Thursday, Peterson drove from her home in Malakoff, about 75 miles southeast of Dallas, to that home in San Antonio -- and after playing an audio recording of her late son's voice, there was no doubt that the dog was, indeed, Milo.
"My son and trained him in German commands; and he is not fully knowledgeable, but he does recognize the terms," says Peterson.
Ben Olsen had moved from San Antonio to Fort Worth in June; and on July 4th, he was killed in a crash near DFW Airport.
The family that took Milo in after he wandered onto their yard took good care of him until Peterson made it out there.
"In the event that he was indeed Milo, they went and had tags made up," says Peterson; "and after it was confirmed and we were all sitting inside talking, their son brought up the collar and put it on him.
One tag in particular took Peterson's breath away.
"I noticed that it said, 'In loving memory, Ben Olsen, always in my heart,'" Peterson notes.
Peterson and Milo are now back home and are getting to know one another.
"He is definitely a very hyper puppy," says Peterson. "And he seems to love the smell of coffee. So there's another telltale sign — my son loved his coffee."
