13-Year-Old Missing Florida Dog Found More Than 1,000 Miles Away on Long Island Under Different Name

A Florida family has been reunited with their beloved dog after the missing pet was found more than 1,000 miles away on Long Island nearly two months after disappearing from home.

The Josey family’s 13-year-old Shih Tzu, Apollo, vanished in April after slipping through a gate at the family’s home in Ocala.

According to the family, a passing motorist found the dog wandering near the road and picked him up but was unable to locate his owners.

Despite the lengthy disappearance, the family remained hopeful that Apollo would eventually return home and continued buying food and toys in anticipation of his return.

“I had no doubt that he’d make it back home. It’s just mind-blowing that he’s all the way in New York!” owner Nicholas Josey said.

The mystery came to an end when an animal shelter on Long Island contacted the family after scanning the dog’s microchip.

Shelter staff discovered that the dog, who had arrived wearing a tag identifying him as “Yuri,” was actually Apollo Franklin Josey.

“‘Well, the dog came in and has a name tag called Yuri,’ and I said, ‘His name’s not Yuri. His name is Apollo Franklin Josey,'” recalled Vera Josey.

The family still has no idea how Apollo traveled from Florida to New York during his nearly two months away from home.

Apollo has now returned to Florida, where he is preparing to meet the newest member of the Josey family — a baby boy who was born while the dog was missing.

“I can’t wait for him to meet his baby brother,” Vera Josey said.