A Chicago family is celebrating what they’re calling a miracle after their beloved dog was finally found more than two years after mysteriously vanishing from home.
American bulldog Pezkoi disappeared back on March 22, 2024, after escaping from his yard on the city’s Northwest Side — leaving his devastated family fearing they might never see him again.
Now, against all odds, the missing pup is finally back where he belongs.
“For over two years, we searched and hoped for his safe return,” owner Herb Chilson wrote on a GoFundMe page created for Pezkoi’s medical care. “We never gave up on the possibility of seeing him again.”
The dog originally came into the family after Yolanda Chilson’s son, Joel Saucedo, brought him home when he was just 19 years old. According to the family, Pezkoi quickly became much more than just a pet.
“It was heartbreaking. It was really devastating. We lost a family member,” Saucedo told ABC 7 Chicago.
His mother added: “I was heartbroken because he’s like our baby.”
After Pezkoi disappeared, the family spent years desperately searching for him. They posted flyers around the neighborhood, shared his information online, and never stopped hoping someone would find him.
Then came the call they never expected.
Last week, the family learned Pezkoi had been found nearly 60 miles away in Bourbonnais, Illinois, located in Kankakee County. They immediately rushed to Kankakee Animal Control for an emotional reunion with the missing dog.
The family described the moment as “everything we had dreamed of.”
“Pezkoi was overjoyed to see me, and I was so grateful to have him back in my arms,” Herb wrote.
But the joyful reunion quickly turned emotional for another reason.
The family soon realized Pezkoi had clearly suffered during his years away from home. According to Herb, the dog appeared badly injured and in rough condition when they took him to the vet.
“It quickly became clear that Pezkoi had been through a lot during his time away,” he explained.
Veterinarians reportedly discovered the dog’s teeth were severely damaged. They believe the injuries may have happened while Pezkoi tried chewing his way out of confinement — or possibly from being struck in the mouth.
Now the bulldog needs extensive dental treatment and medical care to recover from his ordeal.
The family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the mounting veterinary costs, and as of this week had already raised hundreds of dollars toward their goal.
According to LostDogsIL co-director Jeanette Garlow, Pezkoi’s microchip ultimately helped bring him home after all this time.
She urged pet owners to always keep their contact information updated in case their animals ever go missing.
“You don’t know if your dog is going to be picked up and taken to another county, another town, another state,” Garlow warned.
For Saucedo, having Pezkoi back still feels surreal.
“I felt like a little kid in a candy store. I was the happiest person alive. It was a miracle,” he said.
Since the reunion, he admits he checks on the dog every single morning just to make sure it’s real.
“I wake up every day just to see if he’s still here, and he’s here. He’s really here.”
“It’s a good feeling to have my dog back.”