For dog owners, having one disappear is heartbreaking. When this happens, most people spend a lot of money and time trying to locate their beloved pet. Fortunately, some find the animal in a relatively short amount of time but that’s not always the case.
His worst nightmare
This is what Michael Joy experienced in 2016. While living in Ft. Benning, Georgia, his beloved dog went missing. Sam, which is his pet’s name, meant everything in the world to him.
How the story began
Working as a US Army recruiter, it was common for Michael to be away for long periods. On one occasion, he hadn’t been home for some time due to traveling around to help recruit people for the military. When he came back, he immediately noticed that Sam didn’t greet him … his dog was gone.
Searching high and low
Initially, Michael thought he’d find Sam quickly. But after contacting multiple animal shelters and walking neighborhood after neighborhood, he began to worry. No matter where he searched, Sam wasn’t there … but his pet owner wasn’t about to give up.
Sheer determination
Michael told his wife, “I’m going to find this dog.” And true to his words, he never stopped looking. He logged onto the internet regularly to look at new pups brought into the shelters but Sam remained missing.
Forced to move
After several years, Michael and his family had to move because of his position with the Army. Although it was a great opportunity, that meant he couldn’t keep searching for his dog. It was a bitter-sweet moment.
April 2, 2020
That’s the date when Michael received a phone call from an unknown person located in Cleveland, Ohio. At first, he didn’t plan to answer since he had no clue who it was. But then he thought, “Ah, cool, let me answer this and see what’s going on.”
Unbelievable news
After saying hello, he heard someone on the other end of the line tell him that they had Sam. How could that be, his dog went missing in Georgia and the caller was in Cleveland. So, he responded with, “No, you don’t.”
The caller was serious
The woman repeated what she said, which prompted Michael to ask her to describe what he looked like. After sharing the information, he knew she was telling the truth … she had his dog. That’s when he said, “Where are you and when can I pick him up?”
Four long years
Come to find out, Same was spotted wandering the streets by an officer with the Cleveland Police Department. As part of standard protocols, Sam was given an exam and then scanned by a veterinarian to see if he had a chip. And he did, which led the caller to Michael Joy.
Taking a road trip
Michael quickly shared the good news with his family, followed by telling them they were headed to Ohio. Although the drive would take about nine hours, he struggled to sleep the night before. He knew that besides his amazing wife and kids, and getting to retire from the Army at some point, that bringing Sam home would be one of the best moments of his life.
The only thing he worried about … after four years, would Sam recognize him. Let’s just say that wasn’t an issue. To see this remarkable reunion between man and dog, click on the video below.
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Source: 11 Alive, WKYC Channel 3, Michael124105715
