Anyone who’s ever loved a dog knows that that bond runs deep. They are family, always there, trusting and loyal. Losing them feels like losing a piece of yourself. It’s a kind of heartbreak that never fades.
Gabrielle Hartley lived through that heartbreak. Her beloved husky, Luca, vanished after a burglary that changed everything. Years passed and there was no news about Luca, yet she never stopped looking. Somewhere inside, she believed he was still out there.
A Long Wait Ends
Back in 2018, thieves broke into Hartley’s home. Sadly, they didn’t just steal her belongings. They took Luca, her one-year-old husky.
Hartley was heartbroken. She searched for her pup and did everything she could to find him.
“I searched everywhere, filed reports, and held onto hope,” she wrote on the GoFundMe.
Every year, she paid to keep Luca’s microchip active, refusing to give up completely. For seven long years, there were no calls, no sightings, nothing.
Then one day, a message arrived that changed everything.
PetKey contacted her to say Luca had been found. Officer Cliff Bishop from the Tampa Police Department had found a thin husky wandering near a busy road.
When he opened his patrol car door, the dog walked right up and climbed inside, as if he knew help had finally arrived.
A Reunion After Seven Years Apart
The officer brought him to Animal Doctors of South Tampa, where staff scanned his microchip. The name that appeared stunned everyone. It was Luca.
Upon receiving the news that her beloved pup had reappeared, Hartley rushed to the clinic.
When she saw Luca, she was heartbroken by the condition he was in. He was skinny, covered in scars, and clearly had suffered for a long time.
“He’s severely malnourished and has a large growth on his side that needs to be surgically removed. The vet believes he’s been living in very poor conditions for most of his life,” Hartley added.
She is convinced that Luca had been used for breeding.
“He had a UTI, blood infection, broken teeth from probably trying to escape a cage, broken claws, defensive marks all over his body. He’s only like 38 pounds for a full-grown male dog, that’s not even close to healthy,” she told ABC affiliate Tampa Bay 28.
Even after everything, Luca still recognized her. When she said his name, he wagged his tail and leaned into her, as if no time had passed at all. The pup also responded to his nickname, Blue.
Luca is home in Tampa, soaking up the love he never stopped deserving.
His recovery will take time, but he’s finally safe. He is where he belongs.
For Hartley, the wait is over. After seven years of searching and hoping, she has her best friend back. Their story is yet another proof that some bonds last forever.