Filmed yesterday at Animal Shelter in Tucson, Arizona. The woman is Sarah Chen. The dog is Bailey, a 6-year-old Australian Shepherd. Three years ago in Portland, Oregon, Sarah's car was stolen from a grocery store parking lot.
Bailey was in the backseat. Sarah filed police reports. Posted on every lost pet site. Drove to every shelter within 200 miles. Car was found abandoned two days later. Bailey was gone. Sarah didn't stop.
For three years, Sarah called every animal shelter in the Western United States. 1,847 shelters total. Checked their websites daily. Drove to 400+ shelters in person during work trips. Spent over $30,000 in gas, hotels, and time off work. Yesterday morning, Desert Ridge Shelter in Tucson posted a photo of an Australian Shepherd found wandering 60 miles outside city limits. Sarah saw the post. Recognized Bailey's eyes immediately. Drove 12 hours straight from Portland. Phone footage shows Sarah entering the room. Bailey's ears perk up. Sarah says: "Bailey?" Bailey freezes. Completely still for five seconds.
Then EXPLODES-spinning, barking, launching at Sarah, knocking her to the ground. Sarah told us: "I called 1507 shelters. Drove to 400. Spent three years searching. Everyone told me to give up.
That Bailey was probably dead. I never believed them." Sometimes 1507 phone calls and 400 shelter visits end when you finally hear your dog's voice again.