Disbelief As Dog Missing for 10 Years Reunites With Owner in Chicago
It’s one of the most soul-crushing things to experience as a dog owner: your cherished companion going missing. Unfortunately, this is the kind of nightmare that Edmund, a Chicago resident, lived through for ten long years after his Poodle mix, Pete, got stolen from his home back in 2014.
During the early weeks of Pete’s disappearance, Edmund was optimistic that his frantic search efforts would bear fruit in no time. What he never imagined was that months would stretch into years without sweet Pete returning home. (Watch their reunion below)
@nbcchicago A Chicago man was reunited with his dog after 10 years apart. The dog, found in Indiana, had been missing since 2014 and was identified through a microchip. Their emotional reunion is being called a miracle by animal control. #missingdog #dog #reunion #feelgood ♬ original sound – NBC Chicago
A Decade of Emptiness
For Edmund, what began as a hopeful search slowly melted into a heartbreaking acceptance that his best friend might be gone forever. After all, ten years is pretty much an entire lifetime in dog years.
But even as seasons came and went, one thing remained constant for Edmund year in, year out: the silent ache for his furry best friend. Life didn’t quite feel complete without Pete’s presence. Even though he found a way to face everyday life without Pete, the emptiness inside him never really faded away.
Edmund never imagined the possibility of ever finding Pete, given how much time had passed since his disappearance. But unknown to him, fate had a life-changing surprise in store for him. The miracle of a reunion that Edmund had let go of a long time ago would unfold after a decade, and it’s a reunion that will leave you sobbing and speechless at the same time.
A Miracle No One Saw Coming
As revealed in a recent heartwarming TikTok video posted by NBC Chicago, Pete was picked up by animal control after he was spotted roaming a busy highway in Hammond, Indiana.
Surprisingly, Pete had a dog collar and a tag on when he was rescued & brought to the shelter. But when the shelter reached out to Pete’s owner through the details displayed on the tag, the individual made it clear that they didn’t want Pete back. Luckily, the shelter soon discovered that Pete had a microchip, and after scanning it, the results led them back to Pete’s original owner, Edmund.
Everyone at the shelter was shocked that sweet Pete had been missing for ten years. But their disbelief couldn’t be compared to Edmund’s, who also couldn’t hide his joy while being interviewed about Pete’s miraculous return.
“He’s a lot older than when I last saw him. So, I’m adjusting to that part…I’m happy, and I feel like he’s happy, and everybody I know is happy about this. I’m just happy that he made it home, and how much time we got left, I’m happy to spend it with him,” an ecstatic Edmund told NBC Chicago.
The Gift of a Second Chance
The relaxed look on Pete’s face says it all: that he’s happy to be back to doing life with his favorite person. Even though his muzzle now is speckled with gray and his steps a little less energetic due to old age, it’s comforting to know that his remaining years will be filled with nothing but love & warmth.
And as for Edmund, he’ll no longer spend another waking day wondering what happened to his cherished dog. At last, Edmund and Pete have the one thing that matters most: each other. While this reunion is a miracle in every sense of the word, it’s a timely reminder of the importance of microchipping your dog.
