Michael Joy had the nightmare that every dog owner has in 2016. His three cherished pets ran off and disappeared.
Sam, a 4-month-old Lab mix, was still missing when two of the dogs returned. Sam was nowhere to be found despite Michael searching every single local shelter.
Hey, I told my wife I was going to find this dog, Michael said. I kept checking the shelters’ website in case he had shown. I didn’t stop.
Eventually, Michael and his family moved to Kentucky, but he never lost hope that Sam was still alive. He went back to their old Georgia home often, hoping Sam may still be there.
After almost five years, Michael was still unable to locate Sam.
But suddenly, one day, Michael got a call from City Dogs Cleveland.
“She says, ‘We have Sam.’ I’m thinking, “This can’t be the same Sam!” in the back of my head. Michael uttered.
It’s Ohio, folks! This is like on the way to Michigan.
“So I said, ‘Can you describe him for me?’ I said, “Where are you and when can I pick him up?” after she answered, “He’s a lighter-haired dog.”
Sam had received a medical examination at the shelter, and during the process of scanning him, they discovered his microchip. They were able to track him down to the Joys after that.
That following day, Michael traveled eight hours to Ohio in the hopes that Sam might still recognize him. Over those years, Michael and Sam had undergone significant transformation.
You can clearly feel the excitement on my face as I wait for them to bring Sam out as we go to the top. Michael stated, “I was like a child at Christmas.
Sam shared Michael’s excitement. He kept bouncing all over his dad and wagging his tail nonstop.
Michael won’t be allowing Sam out of his sight again anytime soon, it’s fair to assume.
