Stray dog found on streets scanned for microchip leaves animal shelter gobsmacked

Dog shelters do a fantastic job of rescuing and finding homes for abandoned dogs who deserve another shot at happiness. It usually leaves readers in tears, especially when a stray dog desperate to find a forever home gets their happy ending.

Now staff at one shelter were left stunned when they took in a new stray with an incredible backstory. Typically, dog shelters look after dogs that have been abandoned, lost, or willingly given up by their owners. These animals are then put up for adoption when they're ready to move on to loving homes. When a new dog arrives at the shelter, staff usually scan for a microchip to check if they're simply lost and its owner is frantically searching for it.

Recently, an animal control officer at Cleveland Animal Care and Control in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, had to do just this when they found a stray dog on the streets and wanted to bring him in.

READ MORE: BBC presenter 'showed penis picture' to junior staff member in fresh scandal

READ MORE: Sister of Brit killed in Air India crash slams officials who sent the wrong body

When they discovered the dog did have a microchip, they rang the owner to inform him they had his dog - and were astounded by what happened next.

The owner had been missing his dog "for an entire year" and had been tirelessly searching for him all this time.

Posting the touching footage on Facebook where it has racked up over 1.4 million views, Best Friends Animal Society said: "When an Animal Control Officer at Cleveland Animal Care & Control found a stray dog, they instantly scanned for a microchip. When the scanner revealed that the dog did indeed have a chip, they had no idea just how BIG the reunion they were about to facilitate was going to be.

"You see, this sweet boy had been missing for an entire year. His owner never gave up hope, though. In the year, he continued to look for his best friend, both in person and online. So, when he received the phone call that his best friend had been found, he rushed over in disbelief."

Kylie Betler, the shelter operations manager at City Dogs in Cleveland later revealed the owner had maintained "constant contact" with them since his dog vanished a year ago, so when they scanned the microchip and discovered who the pooch belonged to, they immediately rang him up.

She continued to emphasise the crucial importance of microchipping your pets, as if they ever disappear it can be an essential tool in helping you get reunited - particularly if they lose their collar.

"I'd like to stress that microchipping and licensing your animals is the best way to reunite them back home," she added.

"You want to make sure your information is always up to date, if you move or change your phone number. If your animal is not microchipped, there are so many places out there that do it for low cost."

Viewers of the viral video were moved by the emotional reunion.

One person commented: "Thank God for microchips."

Another added: "I'm crying happy tears along with this guy!"