When Coco escaped through his gate in December 2025, animal lovers across Austin, Texas, teamed up to find the skittish dog and bring him back home to his mom, Mayra.
For weeks, community members left food outside their homes and posted blurry pictures
in the “Austin Lost and Found Pets” Facebook group. But no one could catch him.
Nine months later, in October 2026, rescuers noticed a timid dog living in a patch of dead branches by the roadside. The dog’s fur was matted, and he was covered in dirt. He could barely stand — still in pain from hip and hind leg injuries he’d suffered after being hit by a car.
Rescuers brought the pup to Austin Pets Alive!, where team members removed his mats and facilitated orthopedic surgery to heal his serious injuries. Here, the dog met Dr. Rachel Gordon, the veterinarian assigned to his case. When Dr. Gordon saw the pup, she knew he looked familiar. Later that night, she pulled up the lost-and-found Facebook group and scrolled back to the posts about Coco.
Could this be the dog everyone was looking for?
Team members contacted Mayra and told her they may have found her dog. They held their breath as Mayra walked into the clinic and locked eyes with the mystery pup.
“It became immediately clear that this was Coco, because the minute she approached him, reaching out, he immediately crawled over to her and all of his reservations faded into pure relaxation,” Austin Pets Alive! told The Dodo. “Tears were flowing.”
Today, Coco is safe with his mom. He’s “happy, healthy and excited,” according to Mayra, and he’s recovering well, gaining back his walking abilities little by little.
Rescuers are thankful for the lost-and-found Facebook group, which ultimately helped Coco get home. They encourage community members to microchip their pets as this can be a hugely helpful tool in identifying lost animals.
Austin Pets Alive! team members are so happy for Coco, a pup who defied the odds and made it back home.
“Getting to witness a pet parent reunite with a lost pet is a joy that is hard to describe,” the rescue said. “It all at once brings tears to your eyes and an impossibly large smile to your face.”
