A dog is truly a person’s best friend!
From the moment they step into a home, they become part of the family—bringing love, joy, and companionship every day.
That’s why losing a beloved dog is heartbreaking. It’s incredibly difficult to accept that a cherished companion is no longer by their side.
Unfortunate Event
Source: The Dodo
Memphis, an adorable dog, joined his family at the age of two.
Soon after settling into his new home, he made it clear that one of his favorite activities was embarking on fun adventures and exploring the great outdoors.
“He’s always been an adventurous opportunist,” said Memphis’ mom, Felecia Schoonover, in an interview with The Dodo. “His most memorable escapade was a trip to a bar a few blocks away, where he spent the night enjoying popcorn with patrons. He’s incredibly friendly, so strangers would often pick him up until I tracked him down and brought him home.”
Memphis pulled off another great escape in April 2019. While Felecia was in the shower and her kids played in the backyard, the clever pup seized the perfect opportunity for another adventure.
When Felecia finished her shower, she began searching for her beloved four-legged friend—only to realize he was nowhere to be found.
“We drove up and down the neighborhood, calling his name, but had no luck,” Felecia recalled. “I spent the next week posting on Facebook and checking the animal shelter regularly. Over the years, I kept checking their website and Facebook page, always hoping to find him.”
Source: The Dodo
Losing Memphis broke Felecia’s heart, but her love for him never wavered. She refused to give up hope, holding on to the belief that they would be reunited one day.
After years of searching for her best friend, Felecia finally found him—but in the most unexpected way.
Familiar Face
While scrolling through internet posts, Felecia stumbled upon a missing dog poster—and the face staring back at her was unmistakable.
It was Memphis!
His new family had shared a post about one of his recent escapes, though thankfully, they had been able to find him again.
Relieved to finally know where he had been all these years, Felecia felt a sense of closure. But as she saw Memphis with his new family, she couldn’t bring herself to take him away from the life he had built with them.
“I was so happy to know he had been cared for all these years,” she shared. “I made a post in the same group about his origins, and someone explained how his new family got him—apparently, someone had taken him and sold him to them. I couldn’t bear to take him away from a family who loved and missed him just as much as I did.”
Source: The Dodo
As much as his old family missed him, they couldn’t bring themselves to put another family through the same heartbreak they had experienced when he was gone.
Still, Felecia wanted to keep the door open for Memphis if he ever needed her again. She left a note with the local animal shelter, asking them to contact her immediately if he ever ended up in their care—she would take him back without hesitation.
“I never reached out to his new family because I didn’t see a reason to,” she explained. “I just wanted him to be happy, and they had given him that. It broke my heart knowing he had been across town all this time, but it wouldn’t have been fair to uproot him from the life he knew.”
Then, one day, Felecia received a call she never expected—one that would change everything.
Finally Home
On the other end of the line was the animal shelter, calling with news Felecia never thought she’d hear—they had Memphis.
Without hesitation, she said yes, her heart racing with excitement. She was finally on her way to reunite with her beloved pup.
Source: The Dodo
After losing Memphis, Felecia had adopted another dog, so bringing him home again felt both exciting and overwhelming. She wasn’t sure how she would manage caring for two dogs or if they would even get along—but she knew she had to give it a shot.
To her relief, the transition went smoothly.
“Baby sister loves him, and he’s quite fond of giving her kisses,” Felecia shared. “He’s still the same old Memphis we all remembered. His favorite spot is still right next to Mom on the couch, he still loves rooting under furniture for hidden crumbs, and he still cuddles up with my son—just like when they were young pups together.”
Memphis had certainly been on a long and eventful journey back to his original family.
Hopefully, he’s had all the adventures he needed and is ready to retire from his wandering ways—settling down with the family he grew up with, in a home filled with love.