Tourist in North Carolina Cancels Flight After Falling in Love with Shelter Pup

A family from Massachusetts that was visiting Asheville, North Carolina returned home with the best vacation souvenir ever. This fateful meeting happened because the family visited the gorgeous 8,000 acre Biltmore Estate for a hike, and a shelter volunteer just happened to be hiking with a dog that same day.

Take about the dog distribution system at work!

The Asheville Humane Society writes on Facebook, "On a beautiful February afternoon, Wayne and his family were on a vacation to Asheville from Massachusetts and were wandering around the Biltmore Estate when they ran into our Mountain Mutts group walking dogs available for adoption. Wayne and his family met Grover and immediately fell in love. Knowing that the connection was undeniable, Wayne canceled his flight and rented a car to adopt Grover and drive him back to their home!"

Related: Vacationers in St. Croix Can Help Get Dogs Adopted by Transporting Them to the U.S.

This just goes to show that you never know when you may run into the dog (or cat!) of your dreams. Another awesome aspect of this story is that the person who found Grover commented on the post. "This is awesome news!!! I am the one who found Grover and took him to the humane society. I am so happy to hear this news and know he is in a great family situation!!!"

The fact that this family cancelled their flight to be able to drive Grover home is just amazing. We are sure this is one vacation this family will never forget, especially when they look into the face of that sweet pup!

Related: Vacationing Couple's Story of Rescuing an Abandoned Dog in Italy Is Just Beautiful

If you are looking for a way to make a vacation that much more memorable, volunteering at a local shelter in your destination city is a great way to do it. If you do happen to luck out and fall in love with a dog, here are some car travel tips to keep your new forever friend safe and comfortable on the way back to your home.

How To Keep Your Dog Safe In The Car

First of all, never leave your dog unattended in your car, no matter how long you'll be away from them. Temperatures in cars can get very hot or very cold quickly, and it's just not worth risking your fur baby's life.

Make sure you secure your dog in a crate or carrier specifically designed for car travel. Or use a special seat restraint designed for dogs. This provides a safe and secure space for your dog and prevents them from roaming around the car, which can be dangerous for both the dog and the driver.

Never, ever let your dog ride in the front seat or on your lap, as they can be seriously injured by airbag deployment in the event of a crash.

If you're driving a long distance, make sure you pack all of their essentials like food, toys and a water bowl and take frequent breaks to let your pup do their business and have playtime and exercise.

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