New York family reunites with their dog after his 15-month disappearance

A Long Island family reunited with their dog more than 15 months after he disappeared, thanks to a microchip and an unexpected move back to their old home.

Here's what to know

Coco, a 14-year-old Shih Tzu weighing about 12 pounds, went missing in Holbrook while his owner stopped by a friend's place, according to Patch.

Teddy Henn of Long Island Lost Dog Search & Rescue learned about Coco from Sonja Anderson, who had found the small dog on a Patchogue street.

Coco's family had moved back to their Medford address, which tenants had been occupying. Caidence Merrill, a 20-year-old member of Coco's family, told Patch that Henn arrived on the evening of October 18 after receiving information from Coco's microchip.

The distinctive gray markings near Coco's nose helped Merrill confirm the dog was hers. The 20-year-old family member ran outside when she recognized him. She had been in bed talking to her boyfriend over FaceTime when Henn knocked.

"I had him since I was seven, and I'm 20 now," Merrill said. "Basically, my whole life."

More background

The reunion followed another ordeal the family had survived together: a house fire in 2016.

Merrill's childhood dog Bella woke her by barking, allowing her to alert the rest of the family. Coco also went missing briefly during the fire, but firefighters found him nearby within the hour.

The family lost material possessions in the blaze, but everyone survived, including Coco. The experience deepened Merrill's attachment to her childhood companion.

Merrill suspected someone might have been caring for Coco during his time away: he was wearing a striped sweater when Anderson found him more than 15 months after his disappearance.

He turned up on Conklin Avenue, near the family's former Patchogue home, despite having disappeared from Holbrook, according to Patch.

Coco was underweight, weak, and infested with fleas and a tapeworm. No one knew how long he had been outside alone.

What can be done?

While Coco was missing, Merrill and her mother called animal shelters and veterinarians, shared Facebook posts, distributed flyers, and went door to door, Merrill told Patch. Merrill and her boyfriend also searched the streets and the area behind a nearby shopping complex at night.

"It's a really big lesson," she said. "Chip your dog."

Back home, Merrill gave Coco food and water and prepared a small space with soft pillows and blankets to help him feel secure. After eating, he went straight to sleep.

Merrill said Coco was improving and becoming playful again. The family's other dogs welcomed him back, especially Milo, his longtime companion.

"We've been through a lot," she said. "So, having something good like this happen has helped my attitude, my mindset. And my mom's, too. She's waking up every day now with a smile on her face. And I appreciate everything more, because Coco is back with us."

Where can I learn more?

Other families have had long-awaited reunions with missing dogs, too.

• A San Diego Maltipoo missing for nearly three years returned to his family thanks to a microchip.

• An Oklahoma dog found 1,000 miles away in North Carolina returned home thanks to a microchip.

• A Nebraska owner drove to an Indiana shelter for his dog who had been missing for five years.

• A California support dog missing for nearly two weeks returned home after a stranger's days-long search.

• A Wyoming family's missing 120-pound dog came running toward their diesel after five days of searching.

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