Dog Missing for 7 Years Found after Jumping into Fla. Police Cruiser

A Tampa police officer on a call spotted a wandering dog, who jumped into his cruiser. That eventually led to an emotional reunion with the owner, who had been searching for the husky for nearly a decade.

By TJ Macias

Source Miami Herald

Oct. 29, 2025

2 min read

What to know

A Tampa police officer reunited a missing husky with his owner after discovering the dog wandering alone during a call.
The husky, Luca, had been missing for seven years, but his owner kept his microchip active and up to date throughout the search.
The officer located the chip during a vet check, leading to an emotional reunion between Luca and his owner.

A dog that had been missing for seven years was found recently after the canine jumped in the cruiser of a Tampa, FL, police officer who was responding to another call.

Patience paid off for one overjoyed pet owner in Florida after a miracle recently took place.

Luca, a bright-eyed husky with a love for people, is finally home with his owner, who never gave up, after spending years apart.

Yes, years, as in plural.

“K9 Case Closed! After seven long years apart, Luca is finally home! Officer Bishop spotted this friendly pup wandering alone and as soon as he opened his patrol car door, Luca jumped in knowing he was saved!” the Tampa Police Department said in an Oct. 23 Instagram post.

The officer was responding to another call when he found Luca, according to the video in the post. The officer can be heard asking Luca if he had a collar while the pup was getting excited by all the new smells and sights in the officer’s vehicle.

“Who’s a good boy?” the officer asks.

The officer took Luca to a veterinarian in South Tampa, which revealed something that seemed almost impossible.

“Luca’s owner, Gabrielle, had been tirelessly searching for him the whole time! Gabrielle kept Luca’s microchip account active, paying the yearly fee ‘just in case this happened,’” the department said.

“Today, that hope paid off and they were joyfully reunited.”

The video has since been liked over 1,200 times on Facebook.

“As a husky mom this melted my heart!!! Thank you for helping him!” one person said.

“Glad she never gave up hope and they were reunited!!! Happy tails!” another commented.

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