GLADSTONE, Mo. – A family pet is back home with its rightful owners in Iowa after a Gladstone, Missouri man found the dog in his neighborhood over the weekend.

affiliate WDAF was told the pet’s owners had been looking for their dog for more than a year.

Fernando Murueta and his family reunited with Mayo, a 6-year-old black Labrador- Rottweiler mix.

“We are very happy to have him back,” Murueta said. “That’s a reason why we didn’t get another pet because we were waiting for him.”

Murueta said neighborhood kids in Des Moines asked to play with Mayo and that was the last time they saw him.

Mayo’s been missing for more than a year.

They called local shelters, but no luck.

Then, on Saturday they got a call from a number with an 816-area code – it was Animal Control Officer Heather Smith in Gladstone and she had good news.

“I called and he was ecstatic,” Smith said. “He’s been looking for his dog for over a year.”
Smith said Martrez Taylor found Mayo, near 72nd Terrace and Euclid Avenue.

Taylor shared video of Mayo roaming their neighborhood in Gladstone, eventually parking on their front porch.

His family gave Mayo water and Taylor posted this picture online, trying to find Mayo’s owner.

With no response, Taylor kept digging to find the owner and keep Mayo safe.

“I have my own dogs, so I know that I would want someone, if they find a dog, to try to take care of it,” Taylor said. “The dog was here for a good eight hours.”

Taylor called Animal Control.

Smith spotted a microchip on Mayo, which led her to his owners in Iowa – 2 1/2 -3 hours away.

“I called the microchip company who gave me all the information from the dog’s name,” Smith said. “They gave date of birth, who the owner was, emergency contact.”

She said this is why microchipping your pets is so important, noting most dogs that are microchipped go home.

“I’m just grateful that it made its way back to its owner and that they were able to reunite with their dog,” she said.

Fernando’s family is thankful for the strangers who helped bring mayo back home.

“I’m grateful for the good people that help us get mayo back,” Murueta said.

Smith said last month, they took in 15-20 lost pets.

Due to the loud holiday weekend ahead, she said they expect to see that same number of lost pets just over this Fourth of July weekend.

Smith encourages pet owners to get your animals microchipped.