Florida man reunited with dog lost in California 7 months ago
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A Florida man who lost his service dog in California has had a tearful reunion with his pup after he thought he would never see him again, seven months after their last meeting.
On Wednesday, Dean Hamilton was reunited with his dog Angus at Sacramento International Airport thanks to the kindness of strangers who paid to fly him out and reunite with his beloved pooch.
hamilton and orlando Florida Resident, he had been traveling through California for medical treatment in May when he was separated from ‘Goosie’ in Tulare County. Even as the months passed, Hamilton said he never completely gave up hope.
“It’s a Christmas miracle, this is the best of everything,” Hamilton said when meeting Angus in California.
“This is my best friend and just…the best in the world,” said the pup’s owner.
It was an emotional reunion for Dean Hamilton and his pup Angus, who went missing in May.
Hamilton spent the months after contacting California animal shelters and nonprofit organizations, asking for help searching for the lost pup.
Hamilton’s car had broken down while traveling on Highway 99 and Goosie, distracted by food trucks, ran off while the man was making repairs.
Desperate to find his beloved pup, Hamilton told him local outlets he spent “every penny” he had trying to stay in the Golden State looking for Angus, even after he had to start sleeping in his car.
Florida man lived said WTSP she lived in her car for two months until she ran out of money and had to travel back to Florida to care for her mother.
However, even after returning to his home state, he continued to search for Angus.
Hamilton spent the months after reaching out to California animal shelters and nonprofits, asking for help searching for the lost pup.
That search continued until he got the call: Angus is alive and ready to come home.
Officials in Clovis, California, sent this photo of Goosie to Hamilton after informing the pet owner that their dog was alive and well seven months after they parted ways.
“I mean, I was shaking,” he said. FOX 35. ‘I was shaking.’
Angus had made his way to Clovis, California and had been tracked down by local officials who ran his microchip and contacted Hamilton.
“When we collect dogs in the field, we try to return them immediately, and the chip is a very useful thing that we use,” said Officer Christopher Hernandez, who reached out to the Florida dog’s owner.
The only problem, however, was getting Angus back to Florida with his owner.
“The distance from Florida to here, I’ve never seen a case from our division that has one of those,” Officer Hernandez told FOX 35.
Hamilton said he spent two months in California and spent every penny he had trying to stay in the state and search for the animal for as long as he could.
In an act of desperation, Hamilton turned to a Facebook group for truckers looking for and finding lost pets.
In a lengthy post, Angus’s owner explained how he had lost his animal and was looking for suggestions on how to bring the animal home.
“We are asking if anyone is willing to help us get together by transporting him from Los Angeles, CA to the Orlando, FL area as a volunteer or just for the cost of basic necessities (food, blanket, carrier).” the man wrote.
“My family doesn’t have much, but they are willing to provide what they can to bring Angus back East, home to my arms,” Hamilton wrote.
Hamilton had posted this photo of Goosie to a Facebook group asking for help bringing the pet back to Florida after it was found in California.
Fortunately, Hamilton’s prayers and requests were heard in the form of ye shall be found dogs.
The organization paid for a flight for Dean to pick up his beloved pup in California, free of charge.
Shari Balfore, who works with You Will Be Found Lost Dogs, was even there for the emotional reunion.
‘His tail was wagging, wagging, wagging. It was like they had never been apart,” Balfore told FOX 35. “It was touching. Goosie recognized him immediately. It was so emotional.
Dean Hamilton and Angus were greeted by Shari Balfore with You Will Be Found Dogs, who helped arrange their flight to Sacramento from Florida.
Hamilton described Goosie as his “best friend” and called the meeting a “Christmas miracle”.
Wild Angels Canine also stepped in and helped get Hamilton and Angus home after the flight back to Florida.
According to WTSP, a mother and her daughter drove more than 90 minutes to the Orlando airport just to pick up the man and his best friend.
They also came equipped with a handmade bright pink sign welcoming them home.
As for what he takes away from this experience, he urges any and all pet owners to have their animals chipped in case something like this happens to them.
“Have your pets chipped,” Hamilton said. “Because of cases like this, he was kidnapped and if he hadn’t known that his chip had a red flag, we wouldn’t be here today.”