A Los Angeles man was overcome with emotion this week after finally being reunited with his dog, Bea, who was stolen from his front porch three years ago. The tearful reunion, captured on video, shows the moment the owner realized his years of searching and hoping had finally paid off.
The owner had never given up on finding Bea, but as the years passed, the chances of a recovery seemed slim. That changed when he received an unexpected phone call from a local shelter or individual who had identified the dog. According to the owner, the reunion almost didn't happen; he revealed that another family was actually scheduled to adopt Bea just days before he was notified. In a stroke of luck, the potential adopters canceled their appointment at the last minute, allowing the shelter to continue looking for her original family.
The story has quickly gone viral as a testament to the importance of microchipping pets and never losing hope. While it remains unclear where Bea was during her three years away, she appeared healthy and immediately recognized her owner, reacting with frantic tail wags and whimpers the moment they locked eyes.
For the owner, the three year wait was a grueling period of uncertainty, but he says the moment of reconnection made every second of the search worth it. He is now urging other pet owners to ensure their contact information is up to date on pet registries to help other stolen or lost animals find their way home.