Unfortunately, missing dogs are an all too common occurrence. Whether it’s a canine exploring and never making it back home — or stolen by an abhorrent thief, a dog gone missing is an ordeal that many pet owners have sadly faced. However, sometimes, there’s a happy ending to the story, such as this remarkable one in New York City. Recently, a family, after thinking that they’d never see their missing dog again, miraculously found her at a pet adoption event when looking for a new puppy.
Dog likely stolen by sitter while family was away on vacation
In January, a family from Queens, New York, went on vacation for a week. They left their pit bull Mocha with a sitter. However, they never saw the dog sitter or Mocha again — or so they thought.
Previously, the sitter showed suspicious behavior. In an interview with the New York Daily News, the owner, who wished to be unnamed, described how the sitter always “seemed to have an excuse” for not handing over their pet.
“I realized the guy was playing games. He wasn’t answering my calls, he wasn’t answering my wife’s calls. What am I going to do? I don’t know what to do. To report it to the police — I doubt police investigate incidents like that.”
After the disappearance, the owner’s children often prodded him about the missing hound. This includes a six-year-old girl and two boys (ages 10 and 11). “They kept asking me every day, ‘When are we gonna go get her?’” More recently, the younger son asked, “Dad can we go to the guy’s house and get Mocha back?”
Tied to a post near the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Unbeknownst to the family, a month earlier, Mocha was found tied to a post near the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). She was later brought to a pet shelter in Brooklyn by the NYPD.
Staff and volunteers at the shelter remarked how Mocha had the temperament of a “true family dog.” Jay Damashek, a shelter volunteer, said, “We named her Sandy, and she quickly became a staff and volunteer favorite.”
The shelter then put the canine up for adoption at the Paws in the Park pet adoption event at Union Square Park in Manhattan. With her pleasant demeanor, she was the “odds-on favorite” to find a new home.
Family found Mocha while looking for a puppy at Pet adoption event in NYC
While the family never completely gave up hope, they were ready to move after not seeing Mocha for five months. So, they went to the Paws in the Park pet adoption event — in search of a new puppy.
“We had enough time and we decided to take a ride over there, and take a look, not expecting to find Mocha,” said the owner. He continued, “Just take a look to see if we could find a puppy. And as soon as we walked in, she was right there.”
The owner’s wife was the first one to spot the pit bull
“My wife says, ‘Hey, that looks like Mocha,’” said the husband. “I turn around, I take a glance and I said, ‘That is Mocha.’ I called her name out and she started jumping, perked her ears up to her name and that was it. That was the end of it. She answered to her name.”
After showing the event organizers photos of Mocha, the husband persuaded them to release their beloved pet to her “rightful owners.” The family never looked at other dogs. They found their missing dog — and that’s all they needed.
After the ordeal, the family plans on ‘spoiling’ their dog all summer
While the family is happy to get back their dog, her disappearance remains a mystery. The owner hoped that Mocha just ran away from the dog sitter and then someone found her tied to a post.
Given that Mocha is a pit bull, though, the owner was concerned that she was stolen for use as “fighting or bait.” Fortunately, he was relieved to find that Mocha didn’t endure either of these awful things, for she has no scars or other signs of serious physical harm.
However, when the family found the dog at the pet adoption event, she looked exhausted and lost much weight. With all that Mocha has endured, the family plans on spoiling her all summer. This includes giving her her raw meat, her favorite food, as well as doing another thing she loves: scratching her belly.
RELATED: Dog Breaks World Record for the Longest Tongue — Longer Than a Soda Can!
Header image: NYC Animal Cares Center via Instagram Video
I’m Mark Putzer, and my passion for animals and all things nature is a life-long love affair. Growing up in Wisconsin, I had many cherished memories of hiking, skiing, and enjoying the abundant wildlife in the Badger State.
My passion for animals led me to marine biology research for my studies at the University of Wisconsin. I researched the behavior and communication of humpback whales around Hawaii and Orca Whales around the San Juan Islands of Washington State. The experience of being close to these massive and magnificent creatures is amazing. Later, I taught outdoor education to children in California — passing along my knowledge of animals and nature to the curious minds of the next generation. I also love pets. This includes a Labrador Retriever dog named “Molly” when I was a kid — and now, an adventurous tabby cat named “Rosy.”
I’m here to share the wonders of the animal kingdom with you. Whether it’s a cherished pet at home or an animal out in the wild, there are many unique stories and interesting information to share on Weird Animal News! Enjoy!
