Dog Reunited With Owner After Five Years

Dog missing for five years happily reunited with his guardian

Almost 10 days before Christmas, a poignant miracle took place at ReTails Neighborhood Pet Place Adoption Center  at Washington Square Mall located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Having received two rescued dogs from the New Castle Animal Control, both dogs were scanned for microchips prior to getting them ready to be adopted to new permanent loving homes. One was a Yorkie named Mason and the other was Harpo; an adorable little black and white Shih-Tzu.

 “Harpo” had been microchipped with the microchip company, Home Again. The little dog’s real name was Bandit and through a stroke of incredible “luck”, the contact number associated with the account was not only active but when Greg Brush, the President of ReTails reached out, Mike, the dog’s owner was the person who answered. What makes this story even more amazing is that Mike was living only a few miles from the adoption center.

In response to Greg’s asking Mike if he had lost a dog, he told Greg that he had a dog named Bandit who was five years old at the time he went missing five years ago. He provided Greg with an accurate description of the dog and told him he was on his way to the center. He arrived there within 10 minutes; and it would be a huge understatement to say that Mike and the all the center volunteers present to witness the reunion were overwhelmed with joy when he once again Mike held Bandit in his arms.

One day when Mike was out working, Bandit was staying with his parents. But when the door blew open during an intense storm, the little dog escaped. A passerby observed an unknown man nabbing Bandit off the street and putting him in his car and jotted down the car’s license plate number. 

Mike made several attempts to contact that stranger but he never replied. Friends helped him make extensive searches for his beloved dog; but to no avail. He received a hundred reports of Shih-Tzu sightings following posting a myriad of “lost dog” notices around the neighborhood and in local stores, but none of them panned out. Bandit’s return seemed absolutely hopeless.

However, there are many mysteries surrounding this little black and white ball of fluff. Did the “stranger” steal him?  Why was he found 30 miles away in a neighboring town by the New Castle Animal Control? Since he was in relatively good health for a now ten year-old dog (with the exception of a flea allergy) someone was taking care of him. Was it the “stranger” who snatched him off the street? Did he escape again? Was he abandoned? I bet if this diminutive pooch could talk he would have many tales to tell about his adventure and also to remind folks to microchip their pets.

Meet Mike and Bandit up close and purrsonal by watching the delightful YouTube video.

After five years of being separated, what could be more joyous and moving, especially during this festive time of the year, than Mike’s and Bandit’s completely unexpected but greatly treasured reunion? Holiday presents don’t always come in glittery gift wrapping paper; sometimes they bark and wag their tail, don’t you agree? Tell us in a comment.