It was an emotional rollercoaster for Michael Joy when his dear dog Sam went missing during the summer in Fort Benning, Ga. He thought he would never see him again until he received a phone call from Cleveland after nearly five years. Michael Joy is now living in Clarksville, Tenn., and had always missed Sam, a Labrador Retriever and Siberian Husky mix, who was six years old when he went missing. Although Michael Joy had two other dogs, his loss of Sam was much greater when the second one passed away last December.
Joy shared that his previous furry friend had passed away, and the bond they shared was strong. The loss of his beloved pet left a void that even their new dog Sam couldn’t fill entirely. The family welcomed Sam into their lives in hopes of healing, but the memories of Sam lingered on. Recently, Joy was looking back at pictures of his original Sam as a puppy, and it brought back a rush of emotions. However, two days later, the family received a phone call from Cleveland that changed everything.
Joy’s initial response to the phone call informing her that Sam had been found in Ohio was one of disbelief. She had never traveled to Ohio before and was uncertain if the dog they were describing was indeed hers. It wasn’t until the caller mentioned that the dog had light brown fur that Joy realized they might be talking about the same Sam. Cleveland Division of Police found Sam as a stray on April 2nd, more than 800 miles away from where he went missing. The animal care workers at Cleveland’s Animal Care & Control checked Sam’s health, gave him vaccinations, and scanned him for a microchip, which led them to Joy.
City Dogs Cleveland generously allowed the Joy family to have an extended hold time of one week, even though it was not obligatory. Without delay, the Joy family embarked on an 8-hour journey to retrieve their beloved dog. Upon seeing him, their emotions ran high, with tears streaming from the eyes of Joy’s wife and daughter. Although Joy himself is not one to easily display emotion, having been a medic for two decades and exposed to many tough situations, he too was moved nearly to tears. It was a heartwarming reunion that left everyone overjoyed.
Sam, a missing dog, was quickly identified by Joy through his sense of smell and recognition of her voice. Kennel manager Michelle Harvanek expressed the joy in reuniting lost dogs with their owners and emphasized the importance of microchipping every dog in their care to ensure their safe return. At Cleveland Animal Care & Control, they make multiple attempts to contact owners and prioritize the tracking of microchips to successfully reunite dogs with their loving families.
This heartwarming story is a true testament to the rewards of our efforts. After spending time away, Sam was able to readjust to his life at home with Joy within only a day’s time. He has regained his charming and gentle nature that he possessed five years ago.