TAMPA, Fla. — A 14-year-old dog must have been very glad to see her pet mom after 10 years apart.
Cleo, a Cockapoo, was reunited with her owners earlier this March at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, according to a Facebook post. Ten years had passed since her owner, Luisa, last saw Cleo after the dog ran away from home.
The humane society called Luisa about Cleo after they examined her microchip, which had been updated with her owner's contact infomation. Luisa was so surprised that she rushed up from Miami to be reunited with her dog.
“They never lost hope and continued to update her microchip in the small hope that they would be reunited, even after they moved to Miami,” the nonprofit said.
About 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the country each year, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Microchipped animals are three times more likely to be reunited with their owners, according to data recorded by Human Animal Support Services in 2022.
Cleo showed up to the shelter as a stray, the humane society said.
