What started as a dreary day in New York City became a 36-hour whirlwind of compassion, social media sleuthing, and emotional reunion. A pit bull named Bishop, stolen from his owner during a subway ride, was found tied to a park bench in the pouring rain—abandoned, confused, and alone.
Will Zurier and Margaret Molloy were walking their dog Banks at AIDS Memorial Park in the West Village when they saw Bishop, another male pit bull, soaked and tied to a bench. No one came to claim him. After nearly an hour of waiting, and with the weather worsening, they knew they couldn’t leave him behind.
“I just felt that the dog really deserved another shot,” Zurier told People. “We could at least find it another home, as opposed to just calling animal control and sending it out to a shelter.”
Putting the Dog’s Safety First
Bringing Bishop home wasn’t a simple decision—they already had their own male pit bull. But the couple was committed to doing the right thing. They brought Bishop to Small Door Vet, where the staff offered a free health check.
“They were just really, really accepting,” Molloy said. “The vets wanted to do anything they could to make sure that we felt comfortable.”
Given the unknowns about Bishop’s health history, they knew the exam was critical before bringing him into their home.
“There’s a lot of things that can be carried through dogs,” Zurier said. “It’s good to be safe.”
A Missing Dog, No Leads—Until TikTok Stepped In
Zurier and Molloy made every effort to find Bishop’s owner—calling the police, checking with hospitals, and canvassing the area. But with no reports filed, the trail ran cold.
Then Molloy, who had no large following, turned to TikTok.
“I have like 100 followers,” she said.“But I see things like this on TikTok… So I was like, let me just make a video and put it out into the universe.”
Her instincts were right. Someone who saw her TikTok matched Bishop to a Nextdoor post about a stolen pit bull. The story was heartbreaking: Bishop had been taken during a subway ride when someone ran off with him just as the doors closed. Days later, he was abandoned in the rain.
A Tearful Reunion
When the reunion finally happened, it was emotional.
“We met [the owner] at the vet office to just be safe,” Zurier explained.
As the vet was closing, Bishop spotted his owner and ran straight to him, tail wagging and eyes wide.
“He was so happy… He was bawling. It was so tough,” Zurier said. “I definitely teared up during the situation.”
Preparing for the What-Ifs
Throughout the ordeal, Zurier and Molloy also prepared for the possibility that Bishop’s owner might never be found. They explored foster options, but most people could only commit short-term—something they feared would be disruptive for the dog.
If necessary, they were prepared to foster Bishop long-term, provided a rescue group could help with financial support.
“It was going to be a challenge,” they admitted, “but we were ready to keep him safe.”
A Reminder to Be Microchip Smart
The experience left the couple with one strong message: update your pet’s microchip.
“It was so challenging for us to find [the owner],” Zurier said.
Without proper registration, Bishop’s safe return almost didn’t happen.
The couple credited Every Last One and Muddy Paws for their support during the search.
Kindness, Timing—and TikTok
In the end, it took two dog lovers, a vet clinic, and a viral TikTok to bring Bishop home. What could have been a tragic story became a powerful reminder that doing the right thing—even when it’s inconvenient—can change a life.
“It was the best possible outcome we could have asked for,” Zurier said. “It was pretty incredible to freak out for a moment… and then 36 hours later, reconnect them with their pit bull.”
Bishop’s story is more than just a reunion—it’s a testament to the quiet heroism of everyday people who choose kindness when it matters most. In a world where dogs like Bishop are often overlooked or discarded, two strangers proved that compassion and a little effort can rewrite an animal’s fate. And sometimes, all it takes is one rainy walk, a social media post, and a whole lot of heart to bring a lost dog home.
