Family Reunited with Lost Dog Found 80 Miles Away

Microchip helps provide closure after beloved pet washes ashore in Connecticut

Mar. 18, 2026 at 11:50pm

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A Massachusetts family's lost dog was found washed ashore nearly 80 miles away in Westbrook, Connecticut, after falling into a body of water connected to the Connecticut River. The Essex Regional Animal Control was able to identify the dog through its microchip and notify the family, who had been searching for their beloved pet for over a month.

Why it matters

This story highlights the importance of microchipping pets, as it allowed the animal control team to reunite the dog with its rightful owners despite the tragic circumstances. It also underscores the risks pets face when they become lost, especially near bodies of water, and the heartbreak families experience when a pet goes missing.

The details

According to the animal control agency, the dog washed ashore along a Westbrook beach on Monday. Through the microchip, they were able to determine the dog belonged to a family in Holyoke, Massachusetts, nearly 80 miles away. The family had been searching for the pet for over a month after it fell into a body of water connected to the Connecticut River.

  • The dog washed ashore on Monday, March 18, 2026.
  • The family had been searching for the pet for over a month prior to the discovery.

The players

Essex Regional Animal Control

The animal control agency that was notified about the deceased dog and was able to identify the pet through its microchip.

Holyoke, Massachusetts family

The family that owned the lost dog and will be bringing the pet back home.

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What they’re saying

“We paid our respects to the pup by taking the utmost care and dignity while retrieving them from the shoreline, knowing they were someone's beloved family member.”

— Essex Regional Animal Control

“While this story is incredibly sad, one small thing made a huge difference: that microchip. Without it, this dog may never have been identified and the family may never have known what happened.”

— Essex Regional Animal Control

What’s next

The family will be bringing the dog's remains back home.

The takeaway

This tragic story underscores the importance of microchipping pets, as it allowed the animal control team to provide closure to the grieving family despite the unfortunate circumstances. It serves as a reminder of the risks pets face when they become lost, especially near bodies of water, and the heartbreak families experience when a beloved pet goes missing.