Watch This Emotional Reunion Between A Woman And Her Dog After 8 Long Years Apart

Harley was lost for 8 years, but his owner never gave up hope for a day.

Jesse

• Published in Animal Stories
• July 18, 2023

Imagine coming home after a long day, and as soon as you step through the door, you are greeted by a tail-wagging bundle of joy. For dog owners, we're always confident that our loyal pets are always waiting to shower us with love, no matter how long we've been away.

But what if we're separated from our furry friends for years? Will they still show us affection, or will their memories of us fade away?

The heartwarming story we are about to share proves that the bond between a dog and its human can withstand the test of time. Back in February 2014, Betsy Dehaan experienced every pet owner's worst nightmare.

Her playful pitbull, Harley, vanished while they were out in the woods. Despite Betsy's frantic search efforts and the distribution of countless posters, there was no trace of Harley.

Years passed, and the family eventually moved to Missouri, but the memory of their beloved pittie lingered on. Fast forward more than eight long years to the present day.

Angie Bray and her friend were strolling along Barto Boulevard in San Carlos Park when they spotted a dog in distress. They could tell that the canine was in bad shape due to its overgrown nails and malnourished appearance.

In an incredible twist of fate, Betsy received a text message on that fateful Saturday. Initially skeptical, she couldn't believe her eyes.

It had been so long since Harley had disappeared, and the hope of seeing him again had dimmed over the years. Nevertheless, she couldn't resist investigating further.

Betsy Dehaan had long moved out of Lee County, but she got into her car and drove over 1000 miles to see the rescued dog for herself. Lo and behold, it was him...Harley had finally been found!

But a couple of questions lingered in Betsy's mind: "Should I approach?... Would he still remember me after all these years?"

Scroll down to find out how the story unfolds.

Betsy pictured cuddling her long lost pittie

A simple bathroom break turned into an 8-year trauma for Betsy.

“I turned them out to go to the bathroom," she said. “Turned my back for a second, and they went off into the woods. And we went looking and never found Harley. We searched and cruised and looked and put up posters and sent out the wanted, missing pet and just never stopped looking for him.”

Say hello to Harley

Harley was found in a terrible state. You can see how he looks weak and malnourished

Harley was found by Angie Bray and a friend, who contacted Betsy to get down to the dog's location as soon as possible.

“I didn’t realize how bad it was until I actually got the dog,” said Angie. “The dog was so sweet, super well-behaved. Seemed as happy as can be. Aside from being really skinny. He had some really overgrown nails.”

Betsy couldn't believe her eyes

According to Betsy, "We got the text on Saturday. And I’m like, is this a scam? Because we were talking about him that morning. You know, what an amazing dog, and where could Harley be? Is he still out there? And I got the text. And you know, you think Google always picks up on your advertisement? I’m like, this is a scam! This is not real.”

Tears of joy

This video tells the full story

The reunion between Betsy and Harley was nothing short of magical. The love that both of them shared was still as passionate as eight years ago.

This story teaches us that the bonds we share with our pets transcend time and distance. It reminds us never to give up hope, even in the face of great challenges.

As long as the love is true, then the warmth of a furry embrace will always be waiting for us, no matter how long we've been apart.

Jesse