In an emotional reunion eight years in the making, an Arizona man was reunited with his long-lost dog while on his way to help wildfire victims in California.
Paul Guilbeault’s miniature pinscher, Damian, went missing in 2017 when the family was in the middle of a cross-country move from Massachusetts to Arizona. The dog slipped out of his leash and ran away during a brief stop near Oklahoma City.
Years of searching and hope
Despite searching for a week in Oklahoma City, Guilbeault and his family were unable to find Damian. For years, he posted on social media, hoping that someone had rescued his beloved pet.
“He either got fed up with being scolded or scared, and he just ran away,” Guilbeault recalled. “I couldn’t catch him.”
Eventually, the family had to move on, but Guilbeault never gave up hope that Damian would return home.
A near-accident leads to a miracle
Eight years later, Damian was almost hit by a car while darting through Oklahoma City traffic. The driver, Donna Bentley, acted quickly, scooping up the terrified dog despite his initial attempts to bite her.
Bentley’s brother, Rick Chambers, brought Damian to a veterinarian, where a scan of his microchip revealed Guilbeault as the owner.
At that very moment, Guilbeault was traveling to Los Angeles to donate clothes for wildfire relief efforts when he received an unexpected ping on his Apple Watch—Damian had been found.
The emotional reunion
Fourteen hours later, Guilbeault arrived in Oklahoma City to reunite with his long-lost companion.
“Not until when I got in front of him did I realize how much of an old man he had become,” he said.
Despite their long separation, Damian immediately recognized his owner, greeting him with an unmistakable smile.
“When we got there, he looked like, ‘I know where we’re at. I finally made it home,’” Guilbeault said.
At 13 years old, Damian was a little underweight and had overgrown nails, but he was otherwise in good health. Now, after years of separation, he is finally back where he belongs—with his family.
