In a surprising turn of events, a grandmother from upstate New York was reunited with her long-lost missing dog after 11 years. Melanie Epperson, who lives in Buffalo, thought her dog Snuggles was gone forever when he ran away while she was moving to a new house. She never expected to see him again.

“I never thought I’d see him again,” Melanie shared. She was especially worried about Snuggles during the cold winter months because he didn’t like the cold. “He shivers when I take him outside now,” she said. Despite the years apart, Melanie’s love for her missing dog never faded.

A Surprising Phone Call from the Animal Shelter

Recently, Melanie’s daughter, Chantel Stroud, received an unexpected phone call from the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter. The shelter informed her that Snuggles had been brought in after someone found him. They scanned his microchip and contacted the family, confirming they had located their missing dog.

“At first, I thought it was a prank,” Chantel said, still in disbelief. When they asked if she knew Snuggles, she responded, “Yeah, that was a long time ago.” The shelter then asked if she knew Melanie, to which Chantel replied, “That’s my mom.” Chantel couldn’t believe it.

A Heartfelt Reunion

Melanie also thought her daughter was playing a joke on her. But when she realized it was real, her emotions took over. She was overwhelmed with joy and couldn’t believe Snuggles was back home after all these years. “I’m just overwhelmed,” she said, wiping away tears of happiness. “I can’t believe he’s back.” Melanie’s heart swelled with joy having her missing dog back.

The news was a bittersweet surprise. Melanie never imagined this would happen, and the emotions were hard to process. But the feeling of being reunited with her beloved pet was more than worth the wait.

What Happened to Snuggles?

While it remains a mystery where Snuggles was for the past decade, Melanie is just grateful to have him back. She doesn’t know how he survived on his own all these years, but she’s focused on enjoying their time together now.

“I Googled it, and he can live up to 18 years old,” Melanie said. “So, I have four or five more years to snuggle Snuggles.” Her heart is full knowing that she still has some good years left to spend with her furry companion.

It’s a story that proves miracles do happen, and sometimes a missing dog finds their way back home.