Photo for Headline Surfer / Penny, a 6-year-old Chihuahua mix originally from Mississippi, was reunited with her owners, Christy Taylor and Josh Craig, after being discovered by a DeLand resident a week ago. The little dog had been missing for five years when she escaped from the back yard of her owner's residence.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DELAND, Fla. -- A simple act of kindness in DeLand blossomed into a story of hope, compassion, and second chances: With the help of Volusia County Animal Services, a lost Mississippi dog has been reunited with her family five years after she vanished from her backyard.
DeLand residents Briana Rideout and Daniel Lenoci spotted a small dog wandering in and out of the road near their driveway last week.
Concerned for her safety, they welcomed her into their home, providing her with food, water, and a safe place to rest. Hoping to find her owner, they went door-to-door, hung flyers throughout the neighborhood, and shared posts on social media — but no one came forward.
After several days with no leads, they reached out to Volusia County Animal Services for guidance on their next steps. On Monday, the couple brought the friendly stray to the division's new intake shelter clinic on East International Speedway Boulevard in DeLand, where staff immediately began determining where she belonged.
A quick scan of the dog's microchip revealed something extraordinary — she was registered to an address in Mississippi. When staff dialed the number associated with the chip, a woman named Christy Taylor answered. As soon as Taylor heard the description, she couldn't believe it sounded just like her little dog, Penny, who had gone missing over five years ago. When staff mentioned the name "Penny," her ears perked up, and her tail began to wag. That unmistakable reaction confirmed what everyone on the phone was hoping for — Penny was finally found.
A quick scan of the dog's microchip revealed something extraordinary — she was registered to an address in Mississippi. When staff dialed the number associated with the chip, a woman named Christy Taylor answered. As soon as Taylor heard the description, she couldn't believe it sounded just like her little dog, Penny, who had gone missing over five years ago. When staff mentioned the name "Penny," her ears perked up, and her tail began to wag. That unmistakable reaction confirmed what everyone on the phone was hoping for — Penny was finally found.
Taylor booked a flight to Florida right away, and earlier this afternoon, she and Penny were joyfully reunited, sharing tail wags, happy tears, and long-overdue hugs.
Taylor adopted Penny as a puppy and had her for just over a year before the young dog suddenly vanished from her backyard.
Now, the two are on their nine-hour journey home to Mississippi, where Penny will meet her new brothers and sisters — and settle back into the family she never stopped being part of.
“Every reunion like this reinforces why microchipping is so important,” said Angela Miedema, Volusia County's animal services director. “We see time and again how this simple tool can turn heartbreak into joy — and that’s why we encourage every owner to make sure their pet is chipped and registered.”
“Every reunion like this reinforces why microchipping is so important,” said Angela Miedema, Volusia County's animal services director. “We see time and again how this simple tool can turn heartbreak into joy — and that’s why we encourage every owner to make sure their pet is chipped and registered.”
AI Overview:
Penny, a Chihuahua mix from Mississippi, went missing five years ago but was reunited with her owners after being found in Florida. She was discovered by a person in Volusia County, Florida, who contacted animal services. Thanks to her microchip, the shelter was able to locate and contact her owners in Mississippi. Her owners drove to Florida and met her at an animal shelter, bringing an end to their five-year search.
- How she was found: Penny was found wandering in Volusia County, Florida, and was taken to a local animal shelter.
- Reunification: A microchip was scanned, which identified her owners in Mississippi. Her owners, Kristy Taylor and Josh Craig, immediately drove to Florida to retrieve her.
- Emotional reunion: The reunion took place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at the Volusia County Animal Shelter.
- Penny's condition: Penny appears to have been cared for during her time away, as she has gained some weight. She is now back home in Mississippi with her family and "other little siblings" (pets).
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