Kansas Dog Missing for 8 years Found 1,000 Miles Away From Home in Idaho

A reunion of heartwarming proportions took place last month when a missing beagle named Roscoe was returned to his rightful family in Wichita, Kansas.

The canine had been away from his home for a period of eight years, having been located over a thousand miles from his original location.

Upon his return, Roscoe was greeted with joy and excitement by his owner, Nicolle Leon, and her children, Alani and Alex. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Leon stated,

“When he got out of the van the morning he came home, he came wagging his tail right to me. I brought him inside and my kids [had] just woken up. He was all over them wagging his tail with such excitement. I wasn’t sure if he really would remember us — but the way he acted, I think he does.”

Roscoe’s disappearance occurred in early 2015 when he was only a year old and had been gifted to Leon’s children as a surprise. Unfortunately, the family was not present at the time of his disappearance and when they returned, the beloved pet was nowhere to be found.

“There were no signs of him getting out or holes dug under the fence,” Leon said.

“I always had a feeling someone stole him or someone found him and kept him — and whoever had him knew he was missing or stolen,” she added.

“He was microchipped and I never, ever got a call once after all these years.”

Despite Leon’s tireless efforts in searching for Roscoe, including contacting the local Humane Society and animal shelters, as well as distributing fliers, the beagle was not found.

The loss of their beloved pet left Leon’s children heartbroken. Over the years, the family continued to remember and discuss Roscoe, even up until a few weeks prior to his miraculous discovery.

A remarkable turn of events took place 1,033 miles away in the town of Caldwell, Idaho, where animal enthusiasts Katherine Miller and Shae DeBerry encountered Roscoe.

DeBerry, who serves as the administrator of the Lost & Found Pets of Caldwell Facebook page on which Roscoe’s photos were posted, and Miller, a dedicated animal advocate and volunteer, came across Roscoe through the use of a microchip scanner.

Miller had recently acquired the device in order to assist in the identification of lost pets in her community. DeBerry stated, “Many of us are in rescue and have purchased [microchip scanners] to help because there is a need.”

According to DeBerry, the need for microchip scanners is crucial, especially during after-hours when shelters are closed and there is no available support from animal control.

Leon was traveling for work in Texas when she received a phone call late at night from an individual who claimed to have found her dog.

Initially, Leon believed that one of her other dogs might have escaped while she was away, but upon speaking with the caller and realizing the address was unfamiliar and in Idaho, she thought it could not be her missing pet.

However, after inquiring about the breed of the dog and receiving the response of “beagle”, Leon immediately recognized it as her long lost companion.

The discovery of Roscoe was made by a local resident in Caldwell, who posted his photo on the Caldwell Facebook page.

Miller initiated contact with the individual who posted Roscoe’s photo on Facebook, and upon scanning him, she and DeBerry reached out to the microchip company to obtain the Leon family’s information.

This was a momentous occasion for Miller, as Roscoe was the first animal she had scanned and had been missing for the majority of his life.

Roscoe was temporarily housed at the West Valley Humane Society Animal Shelter in Caldwell while arrangements were made for his return. DeBerry assisted in completing the necessary forms on behalf of Leon to claim the dog.

DeBerry reported that upon picking up Roscoe, he appeared sad and confused about the recent changes in his surroundings, and was shy and not his usual happy self.

Nevertheless, Leon was eager to be reunited with her pet and had an important question for DeBerry.

“It was with immense gratitude that I received the news of my missing dog, Roscoe, being located more than 1,000 miles away,” said Nicolle Leon, the owner of the beagle.

“The actions of Katherine Miller and Shae DeBerry, who were instrumental in reuniting me with Roscoe, demonstrate a selflessness and compassion that is truly remarkable. The fact that they went to such lengths to ensure that Roscoe was returned to his rightful family is a testament to the kindness of strangers.”

Ms. Leon, who was away on a business trip in Texas at the time, explained her initial skepticism upon receiving the call regarding her missing dog. “However, after learning the details and being informed that the dog in question was indeed a beagle, I immediately knew it was Roscoe.”

Ms. DeBerry, administrator of the Lost & Found Pets of Caldwell’s Facebook account, described the process of reuniting the missing dog with his rightful owner. “Roscoe was brought to the West Valley Humane Society Animal Shelter in Caldwell, where I was in contact with Ms. Leon to have her complete the necessary forms. I then arranged for Roscoe’s transport back to Kansas,” said DeBerry.

Ms. Leon expressed her appreciation for the efforts of the two animal lovers and the local Caldwell woman who initially posted Roscoe’s photo on the Caldwell Facebook page. “I will always be grateful to the individuals who went above and beyond to reunite me with my beloved pet. Their actions have given my family a reason to smile, and we are overjoyed to have Roscoe back in our lives,” said Leon.

“The reunion with Roscoe would not have been possible without the efforts of Katherine Miller and Shae DeBerry,” stated Nicolle Leon. The three women have now developed a close relationship and are looking forward to meeting in person someday. According to Leon, her children and she are immensely grateful for the kindness and compassion shown by Miller and DeBerry.

Since his return, Roscoe has received a great deal of affection from the Leon family and has quickly formed bonds with their two other dogs. Leon expressed that their home is filled with love and that Roscoe is well-cared for and pampered.

Nicolle Leon’s children remain in disbelief that Roscoe has returned to their lives after so many years. Alani Leon, now 17 years old, recalls being upset when the family dog disappeared when she was eight years old.

Although the family remains curious about Roscoe’s journey and experiences over the past eight years, they are focused on providing the best life for him in the future.

The reunion of Roscoe with his family has been a source of joy and satisfaction for both Katherine Miller and Shae DeBerry, who took the initiative to help bring him back to his rightful home.

DeBerry, as a volunteer who frequently encounters lost animals in her city, highly recommends pet owners to microchip their pets to prevent theft, which is becoming increasingly common.

Microchipping services can be obtained at local veterinary offices, Petco’s Vetco or Vet IQ, or microchipping events, and often come with a lifetime-free registration for as low as $35. DeBerry also emphasizes the importance of keeping the microchip information up to date, as was the case with Nicolle Leon.