The day thirteen-year-old Captain vanished was devastating for his owner, Lisa Wood, and her family.
Lisa had been preparing dinner, expecting Captain and her two other dogs, Manny and Ruben, to return from their usual evening walk across the family’s land in West Plains, Missouri. Exploring the property was part of their daily routine.
That evening, Manny and Ruben trotted back as expected, but Captain never appeared.
The painful realization that her beloved senior pup was missing left Lisa shaken. Captain was her pride and joy, and with his arthritis, she feared he might struggle to find his way home.
Rescuers Find Captain Miles Away From Home
While driving through Missouri, a Good Samaritan noticed an elderly dog wandering alone, looking confused and exhausted.
Believing the pup was lost, the woman brought him to a shelter in Bentonville, Arkansas. Staff members welcomed the dog and quickly scanned him for a microchip.
To their surprise, the scan revealed that the dog had an owner living nearly 200 miles away.
Meanwhile, Lisa was frantically searching for Captain. She posted about him on Facebook, hoping for leads. Her entire family, especially the children, waited anxiously for any news.
The very next day, shelter staff called Lisa with incredible news: Captain was safe in Bentonville. Relief washed over her, though she was stunned at the distance he had traveled.
She longed to hold him again, but the shelter was five hours from her home.
Without transport options, the staff reached out to Best Friends Animal Society for assistance. They knew Captain must be frightened in an unfamiliar place, longing for the comfort of his family.
An Emotional Reunion
That same day, Dani Rakestraw, an Animal Behavior and Training Specialist with Best Friends Animal Society, volunteered to drive Captain.
She gently placed him in her van and headed toward Branson, Missouri, the halfway point between Bentonville and West Plains. Lisa was already waiting there.
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 as she held him tightly. A soft sigh of relief escaped him as he melted into her arms.
The sweet senior was overjoyed to be home again with the humans he adored, and his family was equally grateful to have him back.
This touching reunion highlights the importance of microchipping. Without his chip, Captain might never have found his way back to Lisa and her family, who love him beyond measure.
