Dogs
Dog missing for 7 years reunites with family just in time for Christmas
Jazzy was so happy to be reunited with her dad.
D.G. Sciortino
12.28.22

Not only was Jazzy abandoned in a Flordia hotel room, which sounds frightening enough, but the senior dog was also found to have a terrible case of arthritis.

Still, the dog’s rescue from that hotel room ended up with her being reunited with her long-lost family.

The dog had gotten loose and hadn’t been seen by her family for about seven years.

Facebook/Orange County Animal Services
Source:
Facebook/Orange County Animal Services

Police brought Jazzy over to Orange County Animal Services after she was found in the hotel.

Jazzy was so arthritic that walking was extremely difficult for her.

Despite her mobility issues, Jazzy was incredibly affectionate and mild-mannered. She was happy to receive care from the shelter’s staff.

They originally pinned Jazzy at around 9 or 10 years of age, but they later learned that she was older than that.

“We knew in her condition she’d be hard to find a home for. People line up outside our doors for puppies and small dogs; seniors always get overlooked and ignored,” Orange County Animal Services wrote on their Facebook page.

Facebook/Orange County Animal Services
Source:
Facebook/Orange County Animal Services

But, thankfully, it didn’t come down to that. Jazzy was actually microchipped and the shelter was able to contact Jazzy’s original family in Texas.

The shelter’s staff was in complete shock by what the family had told them.

Jazzy was actually 12 years old and ran away when she was 5 years old after getting scared of some loud fireworks being set off. Though the family searched and searched, they were never able to find Jazzy, though they hoped they one day would.

Facebook/Orange County Animal Services
Source:
Facebook/Orange County Animal Services

The family was in total disbelief. No one knows exactly how Jazzy got from Texas to Florida.

Regardless, Jazzy’s family couldn’t have been happier to know their dog was safe after all these years.

“We told them about her health issues, her current condition, and we let them know their options. They never hesitated,” the shelter said.

Facebook/Orange County Animal Services
Source:
Facebook/Orange County Animal Services

A few days later, Jazzy’s dad Kerry got on a flight from Texas to Florida to go get her dog.

“We don’t know how Jazzy wound up here in Orlando, or what her life has been like. But after seven years, Jazzy was finally going home.”

Facebook/Orange County Animal Services
Source:
Facebook/Orange County Animal Services

Jazzy immediately lit up when she heard her mom’s voice. She remembered her dad even after seven long years.

Kerry was reduced to tears when reunited with his long-lost pup.

“And Jazzy couldn’t take her eyes off him. She licked his hand again and again and inched her body as close as she could to him. After all those years, her heart still remembered and was finally whole.”

Facebook/Orange County Animal Services
Source:
Facebook/Orange County Animal Services

The staff couldn’t have been happier to have brought this family back together again. They called it a “Christmas miracle.”

Jazzy’s story ended up going viral and was picked up by the local news and other media outlets.

“The best possible Christmas gift this family could have. Glad the owner flew out to bring his beloved dog back. The dog now 12 years old riddled with Arthritis poor baby,” one commenter wrote on WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando’s YouTube page.

“I hope this dog will get its second wind and live much longer so both can share their love while they can.”

Learn more about Jazzy’s story in the video below.

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