NY Dog Turns Up in Florida Nearly 3 Years After Disappearance

More than two years after a New York man's dog disappeared from his home, the pooch mysteriously turned up in Florida. 

Giuseppe DiBella says he was mowing his lawn in Newburgh about two and a half years ago when he suddenly realized his toy fox terrier Nika was missing.

"I was sitting in the backyard, there was no dog to throw the ball," he said. 

DiBella thinks Nika was stolen right from his yard. He posted fliers, and called the local vet practices and animal shelters, all to no avail.

A few days ago, he received an email from an animal shelter in Marion County in Florida, telling him a microchip scanned on a recently found pet turned up his information.

In a follow-up phone call, shelter workers told DiBella that Nika was left on the doorstep of a Florida home. 

"It was shocking," he said. "I never believed a 5-pound dog -- two pounds at the time -- would end up in Florida." 

DiBella hopes to be reunited with Nika in time for Thanksgiving, and Marta -- the dog he bought after Nika disappeared -- will have a new playmate.

"They will get along perfectly," he said. "They are both sweet dogs." 

Follow Brynn Gingras on Twitter @Brynn4NY

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