Chong was found behind an Indiana truck stop more than 600 miles from the Lincoln home where he disappeared.
LINCOLN, Neb. — A Nebraska family has reunited with its missing dog five years after he disappeared from Lincoln and was found behind a truck stop in Indiana, more than 600 miles from home.
Inmaculada Jackman said Chong escaped from her home in 2021. She continued searching for him even as the months turned into years, returning to the family’s former neighborhood and watching for anyone who might have been walking him.
The unexpected break came when one of Jackman’s friends saw a Facebook post about a dog found behind an Indiana truck stop. The animal was Chong, who had traveled about 642 miles from Lincoln. It remained unclear how he made the long journey or where he had lived during the years he was missing.
“My friend sent me the post, and I just couldn’t believe it,” Jackman said. She contacted the animal shelter responsible for the post and explained that Chong had belonged to her before he disappeared.
A microchip connected Chong to Nebraska, but it also complicated his immediate return. Jackman said someone else had arranged for Chong to be microchipped after he escaped. Shelter employees therefore had to give the person associated with the chip an opportunity to claim him.
After three days passed without another claimant coming forward, Chong became available for adoption. That allowed Jackman to reclaim the dog and bring him back to his original family.
Jackman traveled to Indiana for the reunion with another family dog, Che Che, described as Chong’s brother. Video of the meeting showed Chong initially appearing uncertain before approaching Jackman and settling into the reunion.
The family returned to Lincoln with both dogs. Jackman said she hopes the unusual reunion encourages other pet owners not to abandon hope when an animal remains missing for an extended period.
“Never lose hope,” Jackman said. “It’s been five years, and we found him.” No verified explanation had been released for how Chong traveled from Nebraska to Indiana or who cared for him while he was away.
Author note: Last updated July 28, 2026.