A Passover miracleBilly's reunion with Dancyg family to take place Wednesday

Dog abducted from murdered hostage’s family found by IDF

Reservist says Billy joined him for Passover Seder in Israel, then was taken to vet and identified via microchip as belonging to Rachel Dancyg, the divorcee of Alex Dancyg

Billy the spaniel is held by an Israeli soldier in Gaza, April 2025 (Social media)
Billy the spaniel is held by an Israeli soldier in Gaza, April 2025 (Social media)

A dog abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’s October 7 onslaught was found in southern Gaza last week by Israeli ground forces.

Billy belongs to Rachel Dancyg, the divorcee of Alex Dancyg who was taken hostage and killed in captivity. Rachel’s brother Itzik Elgarat was also abducted from the kibbutz and murdered in Gaza.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is three and a half years old.

Aviad Shapira, a reservist who has served more than 300 days in Gaza since the start of the war, told Channel 12 that Billy ran into his arms when his unit was operating in Rafah. He proceeded to take care of the dog for four days and insisted that he be allowed to take her back with him to Israel.

Rachel Dancyg discusses the return of her dog, April 16, 2025 (Channel 12 screengrab)

After spending the Passover Seder with his family and with Billy, Shapira brought the dog to a veterinarian who tested her microchip implant and discovered that she belonged to the Dancyg family.

Shapira said Billy would be reunited with her human family on Wednesday.

Alex Dancyg (Courtesy)

Yaron Maor, Rachel’s son-in-law, told Ynet: “We are in complete shock and overwhelmed with emotion to see her tomorrow. We didn’t believe she had survived. We got the kids another dog of the same breed. Now the two dogs will live together with us. It’s a miracle from heaven.”

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