For almost three years, a San Diego family had no idea where their dog was.
Colby, a Maltipoo, disappeared on September 27, 2023.
His family reported him missing, but as months turned into years, the chances of seeing him again must have felt smaller and smaller.
Then, on September 8, 2026, something unexpected happened.
Humane Law Enforcement officers with the San Diego Humane Society responded to a report about an abandoned dog at a Safe Sleeping site in San Diego.
The dog was brought in for care.
As part of the intake process, staff scanned him for a microchip.
And suddenly, Colby had a name.
He had a family.
And he had been missing for nearly three years.
The Microchip Changed Everything
Once the microchip was found, officers worked to confirm the contact information connected to it.
According to San Diego Humane Society reporting, Colby’s family was contacted around 9:30 that night.
His owner, Cindy, had reported him missing when he disappeared years earlier.
She reportedly woke her children to tell them the news.
After almost three years of not knowing what had happened to him, Colby had finally been found.
He Needed Care Before Going Home
Colby was not simply handed back immediately.
When he was found, he had fleas, badly matted fur, and what appeared to be a possible skin infection.
The San Diego Humane Society medical team bathed and groomed him, gave him vaccinations, and performed a wellness examination.
His family also chose to have him neutered before bringing him home.
That part of the story matters too.
A reunion can be emotional, but after a dog has been missing for a long time, medical care may need to come first.
No one knows exactly where Colby spent those missing years or what he experienced.
What we do know is that when he was finally found, people took the time to identify him and get him healthy enough to go home.
Nearly Three Years Later, He Was Back With His Family
Colby was reunited with Cindy and her son Gregory on September 9.
The family had been without a dog for so long that they had to gather new supplies before bringing him home.
That is a small detail, but it says a lot about how much time had passed.
Beds.
Food bowls.
Leashes.
Everything had to be bought again.
Because no one expected Colby to suddenly come back.
But he did.
Why Microchips Matter So Much
This story is a good reminder of what a microchip actually does.
A microchip is not a GPS tracker.
It does not show where your dog is in real time.
Instead, it carries an identification number that can be scanned by a shelter, veterinarian, or animal control agency.
That number is linked to owner contact information in a registry.
And that last part is important.
A microchip only helps if the contact information attached to it is accurate.
If you move, change your phone number, or change your email address, the registry information should be updated.
San Diego Humane Society specifically used Colby’s case to remind pet owners to both microchip their pets and keep the registration information current.
Reporting a Missing Pet Still Matters
Colby’s family had also reported him missing after he disappeared.
That created a record that could later be connected to the microchip scan.
If your dog goes missing, it is worth taking several steps at the same time:
- contact local shelters
- contact animal control
- report the pet missing to the microchip company
- make sure your contact information is current
- check local lost-and-found pet groups
- notify nearby veterinary clinics
No single method guarantees a reunion.
But together, they increase the chance that someone who finds your dog can connect them back to you.
A Small Chip Can Hold a Very Big Piece of Information
A microchip is tiny.
Most owners probably never think about it after the day it is implanted.
But Colby’s story shows why it matters.
Nearly three years passed.
Different people may have seen him.
Different places may have taken him in.
His appearance changed.
His fur became matted.
But his identity was still there.
All it took was someone scanning for it.
Angel Jake Note 🐾
I think one of the hardest parts of losing a dog is not knowing.
Not knowing whether they are safe.
Not knowing whether someone found them.
Not knowing whether they are still looking for you too.
Three years is a very long time to live with those questions.
That is why Colby’s story feels so special.
His family had already lived through years without answers.
And then, because someone took a moment to scan for a microchip, everything changed.
A phone call came.
A family woke up.
And a dog who had been missing for nearly three years finally had a way home.
Sometimes something as small as a microchip can carry the most important information in the world:
This dog belongs to someone who loves him.
Sources
This article was prepared using reporting from PEOPLE, San Diego-area reporting citing the San Diego Humane Society, and other local coverage of Colby’s reunion.
Reports consistently state that Colby had been missing since September 27, 2023, was found on September 8, 2026, and was identified through his microchip before being reunited with his family.
Editorial Note
This article does not speculate about where Colby spent the nearly three years he was missing or who may have had contact with him during that time.
Only details confirmed by the San Diego Humane Society and consistent reporting are included.