Nearly 3 Years After Their Dog Disappeared, One Scan Leads to the Reunion They Never Expected

Nearly 3 years after their dog disappeared, one scan leads to the reunion they never expected

For so many years, a family in San Diego, California, lived with an unanswered question: Where was Colby?

Beloved Dog Disappears Without a Trace

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Their little Maltipoo disappeared in September of 2023. His family reported him missing to the company that registered his microchip. Then came the waiting. Somewhere out there was a dog they loved, but they had no way of knowing whether he was safe or would ever come home.

Eventually, they gave up hope of finding him. But they never stopped missing him.

“We missed him so much. Every day I was thinking about him,” Cindy said.

Nearly 3 Years Later, One Microchip Scan Changes Everything

Then, on Sept. 8, 2026, an ordinary act of care opened the door to an extraordinary homecoming.

Humane officers with the San Diego Humane Society responded to a report of an abandoned dog at a Jewish Family Service Safe Sleeping site. They brought the six-year-old pup in for care and scanned him for a microchip.

Within moments, the little dog had a name. Colby. And somewhere nearby, he still had a family.

Colby’s Family Gets the Call They Never Expected

Officers confirmed the contact information and called his owner, Cindy. It was a late-night call, but when she received the news, she had waited nearly three years to hear.

Colby had been found. Cindy immediately woke her children. This was news that couldn’t wait until morning. The dog they thought they might never see again was finally coming home.

Cindy spent that night and the following morning gathering supplies to welcome him back.

Caring Hands Help Colby Get Ready to Go Home

Meanwhile, gentle hands helped Colby get ready. He arrived with fleas, matted fur, and a possible skin infection. Staff bathed and groomed him, administered vaccines, and performed a wellness check.

On Sept. 9, Cindy and her young son, Gregory, reunited with their beloved dog. Following a neutering procedure requested by the family, Colby went home the next afternoon.

Dog Reunites With His Family After Nearly 3 Years

There are still unanswered questions about Colby’s years away. But for a family that had almost stopped believing this day would come, his return feels like a little miracle.

A microchip kept their connection intact. Caring people followed it home.

Sometimes a moment of unexpected grace comes through something wonderfully ordinary: a routine scan, a ringing phone, and the chance to hold someone you thought you had lost.

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“When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion, we were like those who dream.”  Psalm 126:1 

Nearly 3 Years After Their Dog Disappeared, One Scan Leads to the Reunion They Never Expected 

A Family Gave Up Hope After Their Dog Vanished for Nearly 3 Years. Then 1 Medical Scan Changed Everything (Exclusive) https://t.co/yG7OSrr7fa

— People Pets (@PEOPLEPets) September 11, 2026

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h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/X/PEOPLE Pets

Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.