Chicagoan Edmon Lighthall, 51, a father of two, reconnected with his dog Peter after sending him away ten years earlier. This charming scene took place on the 30th of September, 2025. Peter, a poodle-doodle mix, disappeared from Lighthall’s fenced-in backyard one day in 2015. So after seven years of uncertainty, the reunion finally took place in Hammond, IN. Lighthall made the 45-minute drive to Tuitt’s home to meet him in person at a nearby city park, with family and friends on hand.
After Lighthall adopted Peter in 2012, their connection only continued to deepen over the years. He referred to Peter as “his shadow,” emphasizing the deep bond they possessed. Peter, we assume, is just a year or so older—probably 14 or 15 now. Lighthall noted there are times when the dog surprises her with bursts of “puppy energy.”
Two weeks ahead of their reunion, Lighthall got a text from a different company—this one, a pet microchip registry. The voicemail enriched his day with the news that Peter’s microchip was scanned and his happy reunion was underway. Knowing this crucial piece of information is what caused Lighthall to take the journey to Hammond, where they would soon be reunited at last.
“I think if he’s alive, I’m sure that I’ll see him again,” Lighthall recalled expressing to friends over the years. Most everyone had already pooh-poohed his optimism, but Lighthall wasn’t giving up.
When that moment did come, the emotional reunion went down just as Lighthall recounted in “It was absolutely unbelievable. As soon as he laid eyes on Peter, he thought, There’s my guy.” He came out, he greeted me, and it was almost immediate. I felt like he recognized me immediately,” Lighthall said.
Peter’s excitement was palpable as he performed his signature greeting: spinning around and then lying in front of Lighthall. “I thought, ‘No way.’ I mean, it’s the same dog,” he remarked.
This success of this reunion serves as a reminder about the importance of pet microchipping. A spokesperson from the Hammond Police Department emphasized, “This story is a perfect example of why microchipping works. It’s quick, painless, and it can make the difference between a lost pet and a happy reunion.”
