After eight years apart, an Arizona man has been reunited with his long-lost dog. Paul Guilbeault’s dog, Damian, went missing in 2017 during a cross-country move from Massachusetts to Arizona when he got loose during a stop in Oklahoma. Despite an extensive search, including staying in Oklahoma for a week and posting missing dog flyers for years, Guilbeault eventually lost hope, fearing Damian might have fallen prey to a mountain lion they’d encountered during the initial search.
Then earlier this month, while driving to California with his husband to donate supplies to wildfire victims, Guilbeault received a call from an unknown number. After ignoring it twice, he got a text that read, "Your dog, Damian, has been found." A woman in Oklahoma City had nearly hit the dog with her car, then took him to her brother, who cared for him before bringing him to a vet. A microchip scan confirmed Damian belonged to Guilbeault, who immediately drove 14 hours to Oklahoma to be reunited with his beloved pup.
Despite looking older and scruffier, Damian recognized his owner and wagged his tail excitedly when they were finally reunited. On the drive back to Arizona, he curled up in Guilbeault’s husband's lap, often looking back at Guilbeault. Now, the two are making up for lost time, enjoying daily park visits, though Damian prefers to stay close to his owner. Grateful for the microchip that brought his dog home, Guilbeault is now advocating that all pet owners microchip their animals to increase the odds of a safe return if they ever go missing.
Source: ABC NEWS