BOCA RATON, Fla. – A Boca Raton woman was reunited with her dog after nearly a decade.
Penny Howard never thought she'd see Pia-Zadorable again after her dog got out of her home while she was away on vacation eight years ago.
"I had told my husband the day that she went missing, I said, 'I will grieve for this dog forever, because I don't know if she's suffering, if she needs me,'" Howard told Local 10 News.
The 12-year-old Cairn terrier mix escaped from Howard's home in November 2008.
"(I) had her picture, had her scarf that she had worn," Howard said. "(I) kissed that scarf, kissed her photo, every day for eight years, worried about her."
Those worries ended last Friday, when Howard received a telephone call from Tri-County Animal Rescue.
"She said, 'They found your dog,'" Howard said. "I was in total shock. I always wondered these eight years, 'Is she still alive? Oh, if I could only get her back and however much time she has left, I'm going to spoil the hell out of her.'"
Pia had ticks, worms and needed new shots, but she was fed. Apparently, someone had been taking care of her.
Howard and Pia were ultimately reunited because of the dog's microchip.
"If you find a stray dog, take them immediately to a vet or one of the shelters and they can scan the dog, because there's another owner grieving, and that dog can be returned if it has a microchip," Howard said. "It's the most important thing for all dogs."
Howard adopted Pia from Tri-County Animal Rescue when the dog was 4 years old. She said bringing her home again was the best day of her life.