Losing a dog is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences an owner can face. Every year in the United States, around 10 million dogs are reported missing, and nearly 65 percent are never reunited with their families.[1]
For pet parents, the uncertainty of a beloved companion’s fate only intensifies over time, and the hope of reunion often feels increasingly distant.
This is the story of a dog who disappeared for two years before finally returning to the people who loved him most.
Two Years Apart
One day, while stopping for coffee, Jasmine Noffsinger and her sister noticed a thin dog wandering the streets. His ribs and spine were clearly visible, signs that he had gone without proper nourishment for a long time.
They pulled into a parking lot and called out to him, hoping he might come closer. Noffsinger told the Dodo: I got out of the car, and he came running at full speed at me, wagging his whole body. It was the cutest thing ever.
The dog seemed unafraid of strangers and immediately jumped into their car, as if he had been searching for help.
The sisters took him to a veterinarian to scan for a microchip. The chip was present, but initially, no owner information appeared in the system.
Fortunately, the microchip company still had his complete records. They revealed the dog’s name was Hamm and that his registered home was in Dade City, Florida.
A Reunion Full Of Emotion
The microchip company contacted Patricia Dewit’s husband to share the surprising news. Meanwhile, Noffsinger reached out to Dewit directly to let her know Hamm was safe.
She said: When I told her I had Hamm, she started hysterically crying and was in shock and did not believe I had him. […] When I asked her where she lived, she said Dade City, which is 450 miles from me in Pensacola.
Dewit explained that Hamm had been missing for a long time, and her family had searched endlessly without success.
Once they learned he had been found, they arranged to meet Noffsinger in Tallahassee.
When Hamm saw his mom, he ran straight toward her car. Their reunion was filled with joy, relief, and overwhelming emotion.
Dewit expressed her deep gratitude to Noffsinger for her kindness. The two women have remained in touch, with Dewit sharing updates about Hamm’s happy life back home.
This story also highlights an important lesson: microchipping pets can be life-changing. Even after years apart, it was the tiny chip that allowed Hamm to find his way back to the family who never stopped loving him.