For many people pets become treasured members of the family, so when they are lost it can be extremely stressful as tragic endings are common. Often, after searching high and low, placing fliers in public places and checking shelters families are forced to give up hope of ever seeing their furry, feathered or scaled friends again and imagine the worst has happened to them out in the world on their own. However, in some cases, the will of the lost animal to return to its family is too strong to give up, and against all odds, they find their way home no matter what it takes. Call it luck, determination, the power of love or a mix of all three; here are 15 inspiring examples of happy reunions of lost pets and their families.
Tuff the Yellow Lab

Tuff was a pretty amazing dog. He found his way home after being lost on the far side of St. John’s River. His owner, Chris Jackson, was a regular at the Crazy Horse Saloon, and was there drinking responsibly while he left Tuff chained up in the tray of his 1996 blue Ford pickup... responsibly. Apparently after being left outside for hours, someone got the bright idea of unchaining the dog either to steal it, or because it had been chained up for hours and looked like it needed a friend. Long story short, when Jackson came out of the tavern (at midnight), Tuff was gone.
Jackson and his girlfriend immediately put up flyers, imploring the community to help them fetch their lost pooch. Tuff was spotted several times by diligent neighbors, but never came close enough to be apprehended. Eventually, Tuff was found but three miles from his home, having traveled an amazing 18 miles towards his owners’ house and crossing a wide and turbulent river. Jackson and his girlfriend were skeptical that Tuff could have made the swim across St. John’s River, the currents of which are famously hard to navigate. The vet who treated Tuff, however, believes that if the current was just right, Tuff could have somehow navigated his way back home. That, or he crossed one of the many bridges spanning the river, genius.