A sweet lost pup has found his way home just in time for the holidays, and his reunion is melting hearts.
Little Choco disappeared from his home in Antelope, California in 2022. His owner, Patricia, searched everywhere and never gave up hope, but years passed with no sign of him.
Then in November, Choco was found more than 2,000 miles away in Detroit, chained to a fence. After being taken in by the Lincoln Park Animal Shelter, a scan of his microchip revealed a shocking detail. Choco was registered to a family in California.
Helping Paws and Claws, a volunteer animal rescue group, stepped in immediately and took responsibility for getting Choco home. They contacted Patricia and worked to arrange transportation back to California.
Patricia said she was stunned when she heard the voicemail. She recalled calling back to make sure there wasn’t a mistake, thinking they meant Lincoln, California, not Michigan.
The kindness did not stop there. A stranger named Pamela donated her SkyMiles so a volunteer with Helping Paws and Claws could fly Choco home.
After five long years, Choco returned to a family that had grown but never forgot him. His spot on the couch was waiting, along with tears, laughter, and a joyful Christmas reunion.
Patricia now has one message for other pet owners. Microchip your dogs. Especially during the holidays and extreme weather, she says, a story like hers could become someone else’s miracle too.
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