Winnebago County Animal Services Reunites Man and Lost Dog

Like many people, there are times that I find myself jaded and cynical about too many things. Then, once in awhile, a feel-good story comes along and snaps me out of it. So, with that in mind, let's throw a big thank-you to Winnebago County Animal Services for an outstanding feel-good story.

A Wisconsin man named Jose went through some really rough times a couple of years ago. His marriage was over, and he was homeless, living in his car. He thought that getting a puppy would help his spirits and give him purpose, so he adopted a puppy that he named Chaos.

From Fox 59:

“Chaos helped me through so much in my life, I took him everywhere with me!” he told Winnebago County Animal Services.While trying to get his life together, Jose asked a friend of a friend to watch Chaos so he could work on getting a better place for both of them to live. When he asked for Chaos back, however, that person refused.

“I didn’t think I would ever see my dog again,” Jose said.

It would really suck if the story ended there. Thanks to Winnebago County Animal Services, there's more of the story to share.

Two years after he lost Chaos, Jose got a call from a Winnebago County Services employee who had coincidentally found a stray dog in her driveway. After locating a microchip, the shelter called the number linked to it, which was Jose’s. Overcome with emotion, Jose began to cry over the phone, according to the shelter.

“I was speechless and I couldn’t stop smiling. I just couldn’t believe it,” Jose said. “I couldn’t get to the shelter fast enough.”

Here's their reunion:

According to Jose, Chaos, the happiest dog in two states, put his head on Jose's shoulder for the entire 90 minute drive home. As far as advice goes, Jose suggests that you pay the microchip fee for your dog. He's seen first hand that it's worth every penny.