Dog shelter scan stray’s microchip – then something amazing happens

Dog shelters do amazing work in finding and rescuing stray and abandoned dogs who need a second chance at finding their forever home. But employees at one shelter were left gobsmacked when they took in a new stray with a heartwarming backstory.

For the most part, dog shelters will care for canines that have been abandoned, lost, or willingly handed over by their owners. They will then put these dogs up for adoption when they’re ready so they can go to loving homes.

When a new dog comes into the shelter’s care, employees normally scan for a microchip to ensure the pooch hasn’t simply gone missing and its owner isn’t desperately searching for it. 

Recently, an animal control officer at Cleveland Animal Care and Control in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, had to do exactly this when they found a stray dog on the streets and wanted to bring him in.

When they found the dog did have a microchip, they called up the owner to let him know they had his dog – and couldn’t believe what happened next.

The owner had been missing his dog “for an entire year” and been tirelessly looking for him all this time.

Sharing the heartwarming video on Facebook where it has been viewed over 1.4 million times, Best Friends Animal Society wrote: “When an Animal Control Officer at Cleveland Animal Care & Control found a stray dog, they instantly scanned for a microchip. When the scanner revealed that the dog did indeed have a chip, they had no idea just how BIG the reunion they were about to facilitate was going to be.

“You see, this sweet boy had been missing for an entire year. His owner never gave up hope, though. In the year, he continued to look for his best friend, both in person and online. So, when he received the phone call that his best friend had been found, he rushed over in disbelief.”

Kylie Betler, the shelter operations manager at City Dogs in Cleveland later explained the owner had been in “constant contact” with them since his dog went missing a year ago, so when they scanned the microchip and saw who the pooch belonged to, they immediately gave him a call.

She went on to stress the importance of microchipping your pets, as if they ever go missing it can be a vital tool in helping you get reunited – especially if they lose their collar.

“I’d like to stress that microchipping and licensing your animals is the best way to reunite them back home,” she added.

“You want to make sure your information is always up to date, if you move or change your phone number. If your animal is not microchipped, there are so many places out there that do it for low cost.”

Commenters on the viral video were touched by the reunion.

One person said: “Thank God for microchips.”

Another added: “I’m crying happy tears along with this guy!”