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Read the press release here.

United Puts Loyal Abandoned Pup on Flight to New Family After Public Outcry

By Danielle Tcholakian | September 22, 2016 5:09pm
 Lily, a rescue from Puerto Rico, is being flown to her new family in New York City.
Lily, a rescue from Puerto Rico, is being flown to her new family in New York City.
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Animal Lighthouse Rescue

Lily, the dog so loyal she sat on her old owner's shirt for weeks after he abandoned her in the woods in Puerto Rico, is being allowed to fly home to her new family in New York.

The pooch had initially been bumped from a flight by United citing a new policy.

READ MORE: This Dog Sat For Weeks in the Woods On Owner's Shirt After He Abandoned Her

READ MORE: Loyal Abandoned Pup Kept From New Home By Airline Policy, Rescuers Say

The organization that rescued Lily, Animal Lighthouse Rescue, has long worked with United to fly the stray dogs they find in Puerto Rico, called "satos," to foster homes and adopters in New York City.

ALR found a new home for Lily after DNAinfo New York wrote about her plight and had her booked on a flight to her adopted family in New York.

But when United recently changed its policy from allowing five dogs on a flight to only taking two, Lily was bumped from her scheduled flight indefinitely.

DNAinfo wrote about Lily's travel troubles and the public outcry that followed convinced United to get both Lily and another rescued dog named Hugs on a flight "ASAP," ALR rescuer Julie Sinaw said.

"Because of your article and the outcry of support that we've gotten the past couple of days, Lily (and another dog named Hugs) are on their way to NYC right now," Sinaw said.

"United listened! They called me saying 'anything we can do for Lily' and put her on a plane ASAP."

"We are happy we were able to work together with Animal Lighthouse Rescue to find a solution and wish Lily the best in her forever home," United spokesman Charles Hobart said.

Hobart previously told DNAinfo New York that the airline had to change its policy after it checked carbon dioxide levels in the climate-controlled cargo area where the dogs are held, and realized that the dry ice used to transport pharmaceuticals in the same space was taking up more oxygen than realized.