A simple visit to a shelter was enough to change two lives. That of a stray dog, found a year after he went missing. And that of his owner, who had never stopped believing he would return.
Thanks to a microchip and attentive staff, the animal was able to find his way home in a scene as moving as it was unexpected.
Emotional reunion
The video, published on 26th July by the American organisation Best Friends Animal Society, showed the precise moment when the dog, brought to the reception of the Cleveland shelter in the US, recognised his human.
As soon as the man walked through the door, the animal bounded towards him, tail wagging, showered him with kisses and jumped into his arms without the slightest hesitation. The emotion was palpable on both sides.
A year apart, but hope remained intact
According to Kylie Betler, manager of the municipal shelter CITY DOGS Cleveland, the animal had gone missing a year earlier. His owner, however, had never given up hope. He had notified the shelter and stayed in touch throughout the year, hoping they would contact him one day.
The day the dog was found wandering, the animal control officers immediately scanned his chip. It was this simple gesture that enabled them to make the long-awaited call.
"[The teams] had no idea that the reunion they were about to facilitate would be so powerful," read the caption of the post shared on Facebook. Since then, the video has exceeded 1.2 million views, with thousands of comments moved by this touching scene.
Another reminder of the importance of microchipping your beloved pet.
