Beloved Bulldog Reunited With Owners Years After Disappearing On Long Island

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- A beloved bulldog that was stolen from her owners has found her way home years later.

Bella was a victim of dognapping more than 2-years-ago.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, she was playing in her fenced in backyard at the time.

Neighbors say the perpetrators drove up in a blue van.

Robert Vitiello said his world stopped. With Bella gone, he and fiance Heather said searched and put posters up all over their neighborhood.

As time went by it became more and more unlikely they would ever see their beloved English Bulldog again.

Then, out of the blue they received a call from a Long Island vet.

A good Samaritan found Bella wandering in Lindenhurst, 8 miles from Vitiello's home.

The dog was able to be tracked thanks to a pet microchip implanted in her neck and registered to Vitiello.

"Obviously this is an extreme case, but microchips can reunite animals across miles, and periods of time. Great idea to have, get a microchip," the vet said.

For Vitiello the feeling was breath taking,

"I couldn't breathe. The knot in my stomach was like you won the lotto," he said, "She hadn't forgotten me."

Vitiello said he hasn't given up looking for Bella's companion dog Ceasar, a blue-nosed mixed breed who was also stolen from his backyard that night.

Ceasar also has a microchip in his neck, and his owners are praying for another miracle.