A Philadelphia family has been reunited with their pet dog nearly 11 years after the animal was stolen from their Mayfair backyard in May 2015. The terrier-type mix, known as Forty, was recovered by animal control officials this week.
The disappearance occurred when a thief snatched Forty and another dog from the property. Although the second dog eventually returned home, Forty remained missing, leading the family to eventually move to Luzerne County.
Despite the passage of a decade, the dog's owner, Jourdyn, updated Forty’s microchip contact information two months ago. She later admitted she believed the elderly dog had likely died during his absence.
Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT) Philly discovered the senior dog wandering on Saturday night. Upon scanning the animal, staff found the updated registry and contacted the family with the news.
Jourdyn told local news outlets she initially believed the notification was a prank. The family traveled to Philadelphia on Sunday to reunite with the pet for the first time since 2015.
“He’s very old, and he’s going to go home with us and just live his best life for the rest of the time that we have with him,” Jourdyn said.
Shelter officials observed that Forty appeared well-maintained. His condition suggested someone had been caring for him, as he arrived clean and with trimmed nails despite being found as a stray.
ACCT Philly spokespeople utilized the event to remind the public about the necessity of scanning stray animals. They noted that Forty might have returned home years earlier if a check had been performed.
The case highlights the effectiveness of microchip technology even after long periods of separation. Officials encourage all pet owners to keep their registration details current with their latest contact information.
The reunion concludes a search that spanned more than a third of the dog's life. Forty will now spend his remaining senior years back with his original owners in Luzerne County.