In a heartwarming reunion, a dog that was stolen by thieves 7 years ago in Florida, United States, has been safely reunited with its owner with the help of the police.
According to a report by WFTS TV on October 29th, Gabrielle Hartley, a resident of Tampa, Florida, returned to her apartment one early morning in 2018 after work to find her dog Luca missing and her front door kicked in by thieves.
She immediately reported the incident to the police, but Luca could not be found. Despite many people advising her to give up hope, she never gave up.
Time passed, and 7 years flew by. The Tampa police accidentally found Luca wandering the streets, leading to the long-awaited reunion with Hartley.
The Tampa Police Department recently posted on Facebook that an officer spotted a stray dog roaming alone on the street. When he opened the patrol car, the dog immediately hopped in.
The officer took Luca to a veterinarian for examination. By scanning the microchip on Luca, the police learned his name and that Hartley was his owner. Hartley received a notification from the microchip company that Luca had been found.
Hartley mentioned that she suspects Luca was stolen for breeding purposes years ago, and then abandoned due to health issues.
She noted that Luca had urinary tract and blood infections, broken teeth likely from attempting to escape a cage, broken claws, and scars all over his body. Luca is an adult male dog but only weighs 38 pounds (17 kilograms), which is unhealthy. She has taken him to receive veterinary treatment in hopes of a full recovery.
She also mentioned that Luca still loves his favorite treats – strawberries and peanut butter. “When he climbed onto my bed, licking my hand, looking at me, I could see that he felt very comfortable and safe. It’s all so worth it.”
The heartwarming story of Luca and Hartley’s reunion serves as a reminder of the power of hope and perseverance in overcoming obstacles and reuniting with beloved pets.