Sam, a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever and Siberian Husky mix, passed away.
Sam was lost to Michael Joy of Clarksville, Tennessee. The loss of his second dog in December hit him harder because he had two other dogs, including Sam.
That was the last thing connecting us. They adopted a puppy named Sam and welcomed him into the family two weeks later. The absence of Sam remained despite the new pet.
Joy was reminiscing about his original Sam as a puppy, sharing pictures with his family.
Two days later, a call from Cleveland changed everything. I’ve never been to Ohio. Is he definitely my dog?
Can you describe him, please? On April 2, Cleveland Police found Sam as a stray and brought him to City Dogs Cleveland, over 800 miles from where he went AWOL.
After the medical examination, shot administration, and microchip scan, staff informed Joy of the owner’s identity.
To let the Joy family travel 8 hours, City Dogs Cleveland would extend the hold period to one week, but it wasn’t needed.
The next morning, they drove north in their car. Both my daughter and wife started crying. I lack strong emotional receptivity. I worked as a medic for 20 years, witnessing much.
Upon seeing him, I almost cried. He made me happy. Although Joy wasn’t immediately recognized by Sam, it didn’t take long.“He’s stuck to my hip at this very moment,” Joy said, once he sensed my scent and heard me.
In a press release, kennel manager Michelle Harvanek loves finding loving owners for lost pets at Cleveland Animal Care & Control.
We highly prioritize dog microchipping. Every dog leaving our care is implanted, regardless of prior chipping status.
A heartwarming story that makes our efforts worth it. Sam quickly readjusted to living at home with Joy, returning to his adoring, content, and polite dog self from five years ago.