Eventually, the family had to face the possibility that they might never see Colby again.
Then, nearly three years later, everything changed.
On the evening of September 8, 2026, San Diego Humane Society officers responded to a report about an abandoned dog at a Safe Sleeping site in San Diego.
The dog was brought into their care.
Then came a routine step that would change everything.
They scanned him for a microchip.
The scan identified him as Colby — the same dog who had been reported missing nearly three years earlier.
Humane officers were able to confirm the family’s contact information and reached Colby’s owner, Cindy, at around 9:30 that night.
It was the phone call she had almost stopped believing would ever come.
Colby had been found alive.
Cindy immediately woke her children and told them the incredible news.
The family had already gotten rid of most of Colby’s old supplies after nearly three years without him. So while the Humane Society cared for Colby, the family began preparing for his return.
Colby needed some care after his long absence. He was found with fleas, severely matted fur and a possible skin infection. The Humane Society’s medical team bathed and groomed him, gave him vaccinations and performed a wellness examination.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
On September 9, Colby was reunited with Cindy and her son, Gregory.
After nearly three years apart, he was finally going home.
Where Colby spent those missing years remains unknown.
His family doesn’t know exactly where he had been or how he survived all that time.
But one thing never changed.
His microchip remained with him.
And because his family had reported him missing and the identification information allowed the Humane Society to contact them, that tiny chip became the key to bringing him home.
Colby’s story is more than a happy reunion.
It is also a powerful reminder for every pet owner.
A collar can fall off.
A tag can become unreadable.
But a microchip provides permanent identification that can help connect a lost pet with its family years later.
San Diego Humane Society specifically pointed to Colby’s case as an example of why pet owners should microchip their animals, keep their contact information current and report a missing pet to the microchip company.
For Cindy and her family, however, the lesson is much more personal.
After nearly three years of wondering where Colby was, they finally got to hold him again.
A dog they thought they might never see again was suddenly back in their arms.
And all it took was one scan.
Have you ever lost a pet and hoped they would find their way home?
Share your story in the comments. ❤️🐾
Sources: San Diego Humane Society, PEOPLE, Patch and CNN Newsource.