Microchips have helped reunite many dogs and people, but unfortunately they aren’t always checked right away. A Pit Bull named Harley went missing for eight years even though he had an updated microchip. His family was devastated, but they never gave up hope that their loving dog would one day return.
When someone finally found Harley, the poor pup was severely malnourished with overgrown nails. But despite everything the puppy endured, he was still as upbeat and loving as could possibly be. His journey has a happy ending, so it’s a good reminder to families with lost pets to never give up hope.
Missing for 8 years
In February 2014, Betsy Dehaan let her dogs out to do their business in her Florida home. When she looked away for a moment, they ran into the nearby woods and after following them, Harley was nowhere to be found. Harley was only a few years old at the time, and Dehaan hoped someone would find the pup and scan his microchip.
“We searched and put up lost pet posters. We never stopped looking,” Dehaan said.
But unfortunately years passed without sightings. Harley was gone for eight years, but his family never forgot him. One morning Dehaan reminisced about Harley and talked about what a good dog he was, but then she got an unusual phone call.
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Someone texted Dehaan to tell her they found her missing dog and that he was with Lee County Domestic Animal Services. At first Dehaan thought it was a joke.
“I’m thinking, ‘Is this a scam?’ Because we were talking about him that morning,” said Dehaan. “I got the text, and you know how you think Google always picks up your ads? I’m like, ‘this is a scam. This isn’t real.'”
An incredible surprise
But it wasn’t a trick. The dog at the shelter in Florida was really Harley. Angie Bray had found the severely malnourished puppy and brought him to Cypress Lake Animal Hospital. When someone scanned Harley’s microchip, they got Dehaan’s number.
“It made me cry. It was just so heartbreaking to think about being ripped away from my animals and not being able to find them,” Bray said.
Dehann has moved from Florida to Missouri since Harley disappeared, but she didn’t let that stop her. She drove over 1,000 miles to pick him up and even before she saw him she was sobbing.
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When a staff member brought Harley out of his mother, his tail was wagging like crazy and he was giving her lots of kisses. He is much older than the last time Dehaan saw him, but he has just as much love to give.
This story is a good reminder that dog parents should microchip their pets. It can help bring them home, no matter how long they’ve been lost. Make sure your dog’s tag and microchip are always up to date with your current contact information.
Watch the heartwarming reunion here:
Featured image: YouTube
