He thought it was Ruby's way of saying “thank you” to the woman who never gave up on her.
In 2018, Ruby was named the National Search and Rescue Dog of the Year and won the American Humane Hero Dog Award. A producer heard her story, and in March 2022 Netflix released a film about her, Rescued by Ruby. That May, Ruby died of cancer.
O'Neil summed up her life simply. Ruby was given a chance at life, he said, and ended up saving one.
Five families had given up on her. One volunteer never did.
