In a stunning twist of fate amidst the chaos of war, a dog stolen by Hamas terrorists during the brutal October 7 massacre was miraculously found alive and well in the heart of southern Gaza. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named Billy, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz—the site of unspeakable atrocities—during the Hamas-led invasion that saw hundreds of Israeli civilians murdered and dozens taken hostage.
Last week, Israeli ground forces operating deep in the terror-infested city of Rafah encountered a sight no one expected: Billy, the three-and-a-half-year-old spaniel, darted out from the ruins and ran straight into the arms of IDF reservist Aviad Shapira. Shapira, a battle-hardened reservist who has served an astonishing 300+ days in Gaza since the war began, immediately recognized that the dog was no ordinary stray.
Rachel’s family and friends were murdered on October 7.
— Tamar Schwarzbard 🇮🇱 (@TSchwarzbard) April 16, 2025
Her dog Billy was kidnapped to Gaza.
For a year and a half, Rachel didn’t know if he was alive.
This week, an IDF reservist found him in Rafah.
Today, they were reunited. 💙🇮🇱pic.twitter.com/xfiKyGNUur
“I knew she wasn’t just some random dog,” Shapira told Channel 12. “She was clean, healthy, and she didn’t hesitate—she ran straight into my arms like she had been waiting for me.”
Shapira cared for Billy for four days, refusing to leave her behind. He brought her back to Israel, celebrated the Passover Seder with his family and the dog by his side, and then took her to a veterinarian who scanned her microchip.
What they discovered left everyone stunned: Billy belonged to the Dancyg family—specifically to Rachel Dancyg, the former wife of historian and peace activist Alex Dancyg, who was abducted by Hamas and later murdered in captivity.
Heartwarming story out of Israel - Billy the pup was kidnapped from her home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7th & taken to Gaza.
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) April 16, 2025
Billy was rescued by IDF soldiers and is heading home. She’ll be reunited with her owner, Rachel Danzig, whose husband Alex was kidnapped and murdered… pic.twitter.com/UMMrIAwmam
The emotional reunion took place on Wednesday.
“We are in complete shock and overwhelmed with emotion,” said Yaron Maor, Rachel’s son-in-law, speaking to Ynet. “We didn’t believe she had survived. We had already gotten the kids another dog of the same breed, thinking she was gone forever. And now… now they’ll grow up together. It’s a miracle from heaven.”
Billy's survival and return to Israel has become a poignant symbol of resilience and hope amidst the horrors of war. Her story, a rare beacon of joy amid tragedy, highlights the emotional toll the October 7 attacks continue to inflict on Israeli families—and the quiet, powerful moments of redemption that can still emerge from the rubble.
