An emotional and heartwarming reunion unfolded last week when Maile Trist received an email that she initially thought was a cruel joke. Her beloved senior Chihuahua, Jazzy, was found wandering a rock quarry and had been taken to the Cowley County Humane Society. The shock wasn’t just the unexpected news, but the fact that Jazzy had been presumed dead for two years.

Trist had first met Jazzy four years ago at the San Diego Humane Society, despite a “Do Not Pet” sign on her cage. It was an instinctive connection. When Trist stuck her hand into the cage, Jazzy immediately walked over, tail wagging, and rested her head in Trist’s hand. That moment was magical—Trist knew immediately that she had found her forever dog.

Two years later, Trist moved from California to Kansas. Adjusting to her new life, including a full-time job, Trist needed help with Jazzy and asked a dog-loving couple to look after her pup. However, when she tried reaching out to the couple to bring Jazzy back, they ignored her calls and even deleted their social media accounts. After months of searching, Trist’s fiancé finally tracked them down, but the devastating news came—Jazzy had supposedly passed away a few months after being left with the couple.

Trist was crushed. She mourned Jazzy’s loss, burdened with guilt for not being there when she needed her most. Years passed, and Trist continued to grieve, thinking she would never see her cherished companion again. However, Jazzy had a microchip, and that small piece of hope proved to be the key to their reunion.

When Trist received the news that Jazzy had been found, she didn’t hesitate. Without a moment’s delay, she drove nearly three hours to the shelter where Jazzy was being held. The tears flowed as Trist made her way there, overwhelmed with disbelief and joy. She couldn’t fathom how Jazzy ended up so far away, but nothing mattered more than being with her dog again.

As Trist entered the shelter, she saw Jazzy approaching her. The sight was enough to bring a flood of emotions. Jazzy immediately recognized her, and her little tail wagged uncontrollably with excitement. The bond between them was as strong as ever.

“She kind of went to sniff around, but came right back to me and gave me even more kisses,” Trist recalled. “She wouldn’t leave my lap or my arms the whole car ride home, either.”

Now, Jazzy is back home, and the pair’s reunion is nothing short of magical. Jazzy, though a little older and more fragile, is making up for lost time by staying by Trist’s side every moment. She’s not letting her mom out of her sight for a second.

“She’s been so, so happy ever since, and she will not leave my side or let me go anywhere without her,” Trist shared. “And I feel the same way!”

While the details of what happened to Jazzy in those missing years remain a mystery, the important thing is that she’s safe, loved, and ready to enjoy the golden years she deserves with Trist.

“She’s a little more white than she was from the last time I saw her, and her hips are a little more sore,” Trist said, “but she’s still the same old lady she was before, and I’m so glad she stayed loving through these last two years.”

Trist and Jazzy’s reunion proves that no matter the time or distance, love has the power to heal and bring us back together. Jazzy’s return is a testament to the unbreakable bond between a dog and her owner, and a reminder that sometimes, the greatest joys come from the most unexpected places.