Kevin McClain, Dying Homeless Man, Reunited With Dog For Final Wish (VIDEO)

When 57-year-old Kevin McClain was hospitalized with terminal lung cancer, he never thought he'd see his dog again.

But Yurt, who had lived with McClain in his car for years, did get one more chance to see the man she spent so much time with before he passed, according to KCRG. Thanks to the community McClain was able to spend his last days with the dog.

Yurt had been taken from McClain when he was hospitalized, according to ABC.

It turns out that Jan Erceg, the Area Ambulance Service Paramedic Specialist that had taken the dying man to the hospital also volunteered at the animal shelter where Yurt had been taken.

"He said her name is Yurt and at that moment, that was my Aha! moment,” Erceg told KCRG.

The Hospice House, Ambulance Service, and animal shelter got together to grant McClain's final wish. "Yurtie" apparently immediately recognized her old owner, licking his arms and face, according to KCRG.

Though McClain did pass away shortly after the reunion, the dog has since been adopted by a new owner.

WATCH:

Comments

[Doc Abalos]

10:46 PM on 06/25/2011

Here in Buenos Aires we have a daily comic, call "Diogenes and the Homeless Man". The original name in Spanish of Argentina is "Diogenes y el Linyera". It talks about the friendship between a homeless in the city and his dog Diogenes. It's a love story.

[CB5]

08:39 PM on 06/25/2011

So sad, but so glad they came together, no matter how short the time together.

[T Pol]

08:18 PM on 06/25/2011

The homeless often will give something up to make sure their dogs or cats have what they need. I know such a man. He will never come off the streets. He does not want to. He and his dog are longtime residents of the streets they walk together. It is amazing to see how many people are not afraid of him and will engage him in conversation.

I wish Mr. McClain had known a better fate and I wonder what his whole story was. Had he been a veteran? Did he lose a job and a wife? Were there options for him or did he decline them?

He was a human being, and there was more to him than "he was homeless."

I'm glad Yurt was there for him, in life and at the end. She was part of his humanity.

[amantedelibros]

08:51 AM on 06/24/2011

Brought tears to my eyes....Dogs, cats, whatever creature we love who has also loved us back are an incredible gift. The devotion they show is practically incomparable. I'm so glad this man was able to see his best friend again and see that she was well. It relieved his mind and allowed him to peacefully let go. I know I've been blessed by the pets in my life.

[Fmal DeHyde]

07:15 AM on 06/24/2011

I'm crying just reading this, I better wait till I get home from work before watching the video or I'm going to be a wreck all day. I'm SO glad to see Yurt got a new home.

[biodiversity]

12:13 AM on 06/24/2011

It is, indeed, heart wrenching more than heart warming story. Both the dog and the man suffered greater separation anxiety when they were pulled apart by the situation, after being in constant company for several years in the most trying conditions. Their reunion, alas, is only made possible by one good samaritan, and not by the system. Both the dog and the man found peace in each other's brief company; I wish their peaceful reunion lasted longer than it was as clearly they both felt separation anxiety when they were pulled apart.

[Margery Kempe]

02:02 PM on 06/23/2011

This made me cry.

But I was reading through the comments, and wondering where all the FOXBOT sock puppets went.

[Ann-Pittsburgh]

07:34 AM on 06/23/2011

This is perfect love. It takes my breath away. What a gift Yert and Jan Erceg gave to this good man. He so deserved to pass away surrounded by love and care. May you rest in peace, Kevin McClain. As for Yertie, it sounds as if she found the ultimate forever family.

[ptrgamb]

01:02 AM on 06/23/2011

Really lovely dog. That TV reporter is the youngest one I've ever seen.

[cynicalme]

10:48 PM on 06/23/2011

i know! lovely story, but my god...i thought the reporter was a child!

[buddycats]

10:27 PM on 06/22/2011

Crying as I watched, but so happy this man had his dog in the end.

[ignacio sanabria]

10:24 PM on 06/22/2011

The loyalty of a dog is just mesmerizing. Good for this man who had to endure one of the most difficult situations a human being must go through: Homelessness. But his dog was by his side.

[daniele7ster]

07:48 PM on 06/22/2011

Heartwarming.

[SarcasticFringehead]

07:10 PM on 06/22/2011

With the nonstop drum beat to defund programs that feed poor women and children, to demolish safety nets of the middle class and particularly the poor -- this little story gives me a little faith in the compassionate side of humankind.

I'm glad this poor man didn't die miserably in his car, in an alley or on the street, but instead died in a hospice that gave him some dignity in his final days.

I'm positive there are plenty or readers of this story who would be in favor of getting rid of the hospice which is probably supported by county or city tax funds. They would probably cut this funding in a New York minute if it would save them fifty cents from their tax liability.

I pity those people.

[Martin Privat]

08:16 PM on 06/22/2011

agreed and fanned

[bcmom]

12:56 PM on 06/23/2011

I pity those people also. We cannot drag our material possessions behind us to our grave. All we have in the end is our friends and hopefully some dignity. This man's dog cared more about him than us humans.

[norepublicanleftbehind]

05:53 PM on 06/22/2011

Very cool.

[BlueBird55]

05:28 PM on 06/22/2011

Could this be any more heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time? I am holding back the tears.