The day thirteen-year-old Captain disappeared was heartbreaking for his owner, Lisa Wood, and her family.
Lisa was preparing dinner, expecting Captain and her two other dogs, Manny and Ruben, to return from their usual evening outing. Exploring the family’s land in West Plains, Missouri, was a part of their daily routine.
That evening, Manny and Ruben came trotting back as expected. Captain, however, was nowhere in sight.
The dreadful realization that her beloved pup had gone missing left Lisa shaken. Captain was her pride and joy, and with his arthritis, she feared he might struggle to find his way back.
Rescuers Discover Captain Far From Home
While driving through Missouri, a Good Samaritan spotted an elderly, confused-looking dog wandering alone.
Believing he was lost, the woman brought him to a shelter in Bentonville, Arkansas. Staff members welcomed the pup and quickly scanned for a microchip.
To their surprise, the scan revealed that the dog had an owner, and she lived nearly 200 miles away.
Meanwhile, Lisa was frantically searching for Captain. She posted about him on Facebook, praying for leads. Her whole family, especially the children, waited anxiously for news.
The very next day, shelter staff phoned Lisa with incredible news: Captain was safe in Bentonville. Relief flooded over her, though she was stunned at the distance he had traveled.
She was eager to hold him again, but the shelter was five hours from home. Lacking transport options, the staff contacted Best Friends Animal Society for help. They knew Captain must be frightened in a strange place, longing for his family.
A Heartwarming Reunion
That same day, Dani Rakestraw, an Animal Behavior and Training Specialist with Best Friends Animal Society, offered to drive Captain.
She placed him gently in her van and headed toward Branson, Missouri, the halfway point between Bentonville and West Plains. There, Lisa was already waiting.
Captain had no idea his long wait was about to end.
When he spotted his mom, his entire face lit up. His tail wagged furiously, and he covered her in kisses while she held him tight. A soft sigh of relief left him as he melted into her arms.
The sweet senior was thrilled to be home again with the humans he adored, and his family was equally overjoyed to have him back.
This emotional reunion shows just how vital microchipping is. Without his chip, Captain might never have made it back to Lisa and her family, who love him beyond measure.