(Lawrenceville, Ga., May 05, 2023) – Gwinnett County Animal Welfare and Enforcement recently reunited a lost family dog with its owners after almost three years.

The family said they lost hope of ever seeing their beloved Teddy again, but thanks to the dog's microchip, Gwinnett Animal Welfare was able to find the owners and bring them back together.

“This heartwarming story emphasizes the importance of microchipping your pets to increase the chances of being reunited with them if they ever get lost,” said Division Director Vernon Sawyer.

A microchip is a tiny electronic device that is implanted under the skin of your pet, usually between the shoulder blades. It contains a unique identification number that can be scanned by a special device. Gwinnett Animal Welfare offers this service free of charge for all dogs and cats available for adoption.

Animal Welfare also spays or neuters all dogs and cats before they go to their new homes to help control the pet population and reduce the number of homeless pets in the community. All adoptions fees are currently waived at the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center, and residents are encouraged to consider adopting or fostering.

For more information, visit GwinnettAnimalWelfare.com.