Microchips have played a pivotal role in reuniting countless lost pets with their families, but they aren’t always scanned promptly.
Harley, a pit bull missing for eight long years, had a microchip yet remained separated from his family. Despite the odds, his story is one of resilience, hope, and reunion.
Eight Years Without a Trace
In February 2014, Betsy DeHaan let her dogs roam outside her Florida home. Unexpectedly, they dashed into the nearby woods.
While the others returned, Harley was nowhere to be found. Devastated, DeHaan held onto hope that someone would find Harley and scan his microchip.
“We put up missing pet posters and posted them online. We never stopped looking,” DeHaan said.
Years passed without any word, but Harley was never far from the family’s thoughts. Even after moving from Florida to Missouri, DeHaan kept his memory alive. Eight years later, while reminiscing about her beloved dog, DeHaan received an unexpected text that seemed too good to be true.
An Unexpected Call
The message claimed that Harley had been found and was at Lee County Pet Services. At first, DeHaan thought it was a scam, especially since she had just been thinking about him earlier that day.
“I was like, ‘Is this a scam?'” she recalled. “It seemed too coincidental.”
But the message was real. Harley had been rescued by Angie Bray, who found the malnourished pit bull and took him to Cypress Lake Animal Hospital. A microchip scan revealed DeHaan’s contact information, setting the reunion into motion.
A Joyful Reunion
Despite the eight-year separation, DeHaan didn’t hesitate to travel nearly 1,000 miles from Missouri to Florida to see Harley again. By the time she reached the shelter, emotions were running high.
Harley, though thinner and older, was as affectionate as ever. His tail wagged furiously as staff brought him to DeHaan, and he showered her with kisses. “It was overwhelming, but he’s still full of love,” DeHaan said.
A Lesson in Hope
Harley’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of microchipping pets and keeping contact information up to date. While it took nearly a decade, the microchip ultimately helped Harley find his way home.
For families with missing pets, Harley’s journey serves as a testament to never giving up hope—sometimes, happy endings take time.
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