NEED TO KNOW

• Koko, a dog who was missing for two years, was found 1,500 miles from home at a New Jersey mall on March 4

• Clark Township Police took Koko in and cared for her for three days until her owners could fly in from Texas

• Police said Koko was “running right to her mommy” when the owner arrived to pick up the long-lost pup on March 7

On March 7, a New Jersey town hosted a special pet-owner reunion that was two years in the making.

On Wednesday, March 4, someone spotted Koko the dog “roaming” around a shopping mall in Clark, N.J. — multiple states and about 1,500 miles away from her hometown of Glenn Heights, Texas, the Clark Township Police Department (CTPD) said in a press release dated Monday, March 9.

A passerby spotted the small, gray-and-white pup wandering at the Clark Commons Shopping Center and phoned police about the sighting, according to the release.

A CTPD patrolman, Nick Kurus, arrived on the scene and brought the lost dog to police headquarters, where staff members were able to “successfully identify the number of a pet finder service,” police said. “From there, Patrolman Kurus contacted the service and was able to retrieve a name and phone number for the last recorded owner of the dog.”

Kurus then called the owner’s listed number — a call that the pet parents, who had accepted their dog was gone forever after two years away, were “shocked” to receive, per police.

The owners, whom police did not identify, told the CTPD patrolman that Koko had been missing for two years since disappearing in Texas, where they live. A reunion was planned for three days later, on Saturday, March 7.

The owners “immediately made plans” to fly to New Jersey to retrieve their beloved canine, who, in the meantime, stole officers’ hearts.

“Rather than being sent to a shelter, members of the Clark Police Department cared for the dog the next 3 days,” the department said in the press release. “During that time, Clark Police personnel bathed the dog, fed and provided treats, walked it regularly, and provided blankets and toys to keep her comfortable.”

“Despite continuing their regular police duties, personnel made sure the dog was well cared for,” per the release.

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Speaking on behalf of the CTPD, Police Director Patrick Grady said, “As a dog lover amongst many other dog lovers, we were not going to make that puppy wait in a shelter or pound.”

Some of the supplies used to care for Koko were even “purchased by department members out of their own pockets,” the CTPD said.

“I want to commend all the officers and staff who went above and beyond to care for this dog while still performing their duties,” Grady said. “Koko was living her best life inside the dispatch room the last 3 days, and hopefully it will get even better being reunited with her family again.”

And if the smiles sported by both the pup and her owners are any indication, her “best life” did get even better.

Police said Koko was seen “running right to her mommy” when she arrived to pick up the long-lost pup on Saturday. Both owners “were extremely grateful for the care and compassion the Clark Police showed for her dog,” police said.

It was a bittersweet moment — sweet for the canine’s owners, and bitter for the CTPD staff who grew to love her during her short stay in the dispatch room.

“We will miss you, Koko💙,” the department wrote on Facebook.

CTPD did not share details or theories on how the dog traveled from Texas to New Jersey over her two years away from home.

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