COLONIE — Fredrick Pangburn, who's been homeless for two years, was faced with a choice this holiday season. He could take a bus to Petersburg, West Virginia to escape the cold streets and celebrate Christmas in the warm home of his daughter, Ida. But that would mean leaving behind his best friend: his dog Thumper.

For Pangburn, it wasn't really a choice.

"Where I go, she goes," he said.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and Molly O'Brien of the Albany District Attorney's office, Pangburn and Thumper were driven down to West Virginia Friday afternoon by MHHS volunteers Patrick and Kerry Linskey to celebrate Christmas together with his family.

"We're just so happy to be able to help Fred," Todd Cramer, president and CEO of the MHHS, said with tears in his eyes. "He has gone above and beyond what probably most pet parents do."

Pangburn said he became homeless when he got involved with a woman addicted to crack and heroin, who funneled money from him to feed her addiction. But instead of staying in homeless shelters for the past two years, Pangburn lived in his van until it broke down a few months ago. He then began sleeping in abandoned warehouses under five blankets so he could keep Thumper with him.

"That dog inspires me," Pangburn said. "If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here. She gives me a reason to wake up in the morning."

Thumper — a 9-year-old, German shepherd/border collie/Siberian husky mix — greets most every person with a wagging tail and smile, but might hide under a table when a man enters the room. Her name was inspired by the thumping noise her foot makes as she scratches her ear. She raises her paw to ask for treats, and when Pangburn leaves the room, she cries and stares at the door until he comes back.

She is what Cramer calls a partner animal.

"Thumper is a true pal for him, they're connected at their souls," Cramer said. "He has suffered and put himself second and gone hungry so he could feed and care for his dog."

In November 2017, Pangburn was arrested for petit larceny — he had been stealing DVDs and food to support his now former girlfriend — and was required to do community service. That's when O'Brien, who was setting up his community service, met him and learned where he was sleeping.

"I'm a dog person, so when I heard he's putting himself at risk I was like, 'Wow, that's a lot of dedication,' " O'Brien said. "I can't say what it is about him, I just felt really bad for him."

She was able to arrange for Pangburn to sleep at the Capital City Rescue Mission, thanks to an emotional support animal certificate purchased by the Victory Christian Church, but Greyhound Lines wouldn't allow Pangburn to travel with Thumper without a doctor's note.

O'Brien ended up collaborating with Cramer, who sent out an email to volunteers asking if someone would drive Pangburn down to West Virginia.

"Within the first half hour, we had three responses, and more came in after that," said K.C. Campbell, volunteer manager at the MHHS.

The organization is sending Pangburn down with a $150 Walmart gift certificate, a Christmas meal basket for his family, and food for Ida's four cats, four dogs, four chickens, and three ducks.

The first thing Pangburn is going to do when he arrives at Ida's home?

"Probably cry," he said. "I haven't seen my two grandkids (ages 13 and 11) and my daughter in a while."