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
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.
סיפור בלתי יאמן!
הכלבה בילי מקיבוץ ניר עוז שנחטפה ב7.10 שבה הביתה, שנה וחצי אחרי הטבח: כוח של גולני מצא היום ברפיח את הכלבה השייכת לרחל דנציג מניר-עוז (גרושתו של אלכס דנציג ז"ל שנחטף ונרצח).
בילי הקבליר קינג צ'ארלס, בת 3 וחצי, אותרה בזכות שבב אלקטרוני. pic.twitter.com/LXC3AFalhY— matan tzuri מתן צורי (@MatanTzuri) April 15, 2025
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.
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.
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.”
The Times of Israel Community.