Sweet-Pea the Chihuahua, who went missing over five years ago, is now back home with her loving family in Southern California after a surprise, heartwarming reunion, which was captured on video.
No one knows how Sweet-Pea spent her time during her extended hiatus, but she appeared healthy and well-fed when the Inland Valley Humane Society discovered her. They contacted her long, lost guardian, Ursula Lopez, via information on Sweet-Pea’s microchip. She was found in Covina, just 30 miles away from the Compton home that she disappeared from in 2015.
Lopez told NBC Los Angeles that her furry friend’s return meant the world to her, and that she’s glad Sweet-Pea is okay. Lopez “always prayed and wondered where she was, what happened to her,” adding that “it was obvious that somebody had her and was taking care of her.”
Lady Freethinker is thrilled that Sweet-Pea finally made her way back into the loving arms of her guardian.

Sweet Pea doesn’t look like she remembers her owner…..Something is a little bit off.
A dog does not always instantly recognize a person they have not seen for 5 years. It can take a bit of time for the smell and voice of a person to click with the dog. I have personally had that happen to me. I had a change to see a Collie I had not seen for 3 years. At first she ignored me and was standoffish. I kept talking to her and I could see her trying to figure me out. When she finally remembered me she threw her hear up in the air and roo-ed her little heart out all while dancing for joy. This is common and should not be seen as a reason to doubt a person as either the previous owner or a very good friend to the dog. Given time it will click with the dog and they will be totally overjoyed. My reunion taught me a lot and made me cry for my own joy of seeing Mariah trying to place me.
God bless Sweet Pea.
Belle histoire
What a heart warming story.
That is hard to do to keep comments family friendly. I don’t see any of these too family friendly. No animal deserves to be shot,mutilated for trophy or starved. There should be a law for protecting all animals.Need to have the maggots put on registry for abuse and neglect of animals. Make sure they don’t buy or go near another animal as long as they live.
I think you responded to the wrong story
Albeit a nice gesture, rather than erecting a statue AFTER this poor stray died, it would’ve been kinder to offer it a good forever home while he was still alive.
I think you responded to the story.
Sadly, Sweet-pea certainly didn’t look like it was a “heart-warming reunion”.
Perhaps she would be happier with the person/family who had been taking such good care of her for the past five years.
Please understand that it can take a bit for a dog to recognize a person it has previously known. The dog will process the smell and sound of the voice trying to figure that person out. Almost all dogs will eventually click in to the knowledge that it knows this person and it will be overjoyed to see that person again. I have witnessed this myself so I understand it is not immediate for all dogs.
Hoe sweet. Thank you for the heartwarming story. We need more stories like that to brightened up our day in this cold and soulless world.