In 2012, the Harworth family of Georgia was reassigned to a U.S. military base in South Korea. They had to leave their beloved dog, a Chow Chow/German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix named Zeus, with a family friend who lived in North Carolina.
A few months later, the Harworths were heartbroken when, for some unknown reason, the friend told them Zeus had died.
Fast forward three years. Laura Williams of Durham, N.C., (that’s her in the photo above) was concerned when she saw a scrawny Rottweiler mix wandering along a road.
“He was looking all lethargic and out of it, and not really too well,” Williams told WNCN. “He let me put a collar and a leash on him, and he jumped into my car.”
She took him to a vet, who discovered the dog was microchipped. His name was — wait for it — Zeus! And his owners were the Harworths!
Williams was able to track down and phone the Harworths, who are now living in Washington state. It was a strange call, to say the least.
“When I said, ‘We found your dog, Zeus’ – because he was listed as lost — they said their dog was dead,” Williams told WNCN.
“We all got chills. The girl from the vet got chills. I got goosebumps, and I almost started crying because for the past three years, they thought their dog was dead.”
WNCN reporter Sean Maroney (that’s him in the photo) arranged a Skype reunion for Zeus and the Harworths. The dog’s tail wagged nonstop as Melody Harworth and her two teenage sons cried, “Zeusy! Hi, Zeusy!”
“He looks great,” Melody said. “My husband is going to be so excited. He has no idea. He’s going to be coming home from training.”
Zeus is being treated for heartworm, so he would have to wait six months to be flown back to his family in Washington. Since that’s more than three years in dog’s years, other options to transport Zeus across the country are currently being considered.
Hopefully, he’ll be home in time to greet his dog dad at the front door.
Photo via Twitter