A Five-Year Mystery Ends with a Tail Wag: Volusia County Animal Services Reunites Lost Mississippi Dog with Family

Posted On: October 29, 2025

A simple act of kindness in DeLand blossomed into a story of hope, compassion, and second chances. With the help of Volusia County Animal Services, a lost Mississippi dog has been reunited with her family five years after she vanished from her backyard.

Last week, DeLand residents Briana Rideout and Daniel Lenoci spotted a small dog wandering in and out of the road near their driveway. Concerned for her safety, they welcomed her inside their home and offered her food, water, and a safe place to rest. Hoping to find her owner, they went door to door, hung flyers throughout the neighborhood, and shared posts on social media - but no one came forward.

After several days with no leads, they reached out to Volusia County Animal Services for guidance on what to do next. On Monday, the couple brought the friendly stray to the division's new intake shelter clinic on East International Speedway Boulevard in DeLand, where staff immediately went to work determining where she belonged.

A quick scan of the dog's microchip revealed something extraordinary - she was registered to an address in Mississippi. When staff dialed the number associated with the chip, a woman named Christy Taylor answered. As soon as Taylor heard the description, she couldn't believe that it sounded just like her little dog named Penny, who went missing over five years ago. When staff mentioned the name Penny, her ears perked up and her tail began to wag. That unmistakable reaction confirmed what everyone on the phone was hoping for - Penny was finally found.

Taylor booked a flight to Florida right away, and earlier this afternoon, she and Penny were joyfully reunited, sharing tail wags, happy tears, and long-overdue hugs. Taylor adopted Penny as a puppy and had her for just over a year before the young dog suddenly vanished from her backyard. Now, the two are on their nine-hour journey home to Mississippi, where Penny will meet her new brothers and sisters - and settle back into the family she never stopped being part of.

"Every reunion like this reinforces why microchipping is so important," said Volusia County Animal Services Director Angela Miedema. "We see time and again how this simple tool can turn heartbreak into joy - and that's why we encourage every owner to make sure their pet is chipped and registered."