FT. CAMPBELL, Ky. -
After more than a year apart, a Fort Campbell soldier's family is preparing to be reunited with their beloved pet.
Pooka, a red Chihuahua-Dachshund mix, disappeared from her family's yard in 2011.
"I was heartbroken, I was devastated and the first thing I did is run out the back door and just start calling for her," Mandi Smith told Nashville's News 2.
The family said their four-legged family member was found on the side of the road more than 1,200 miles away in New Mexico on January 12.
A microchip helped the Espanola Valley Humane Society track down Pooka's family.
"I had to listen to the voicemail five or six times before I actually believed that they had found Pooka and I called her back and sure enough she described her and sent me a picture and I just knew," Smith said.
According to Smith, it is a Ft. Campbell regulation for dogs to be microchipped.
Since being found, Melanie Lopez has been caring for Pooka in New Mexico.
"There's always hope, a year or even a year later you never know when your dog might turn up," Lopez said.
A generous donor in New Mexico has provided frequent flier miles so Smith can fly out to get Pooka on Wednesday.
