Last month, Dorchester Paws, an animal shelter in South Carolina, took in an 18-year-old dog named Binky, aka Mr. B. The dog had been found “wandering around” on the street before a Good Samaritan picked him up.

Binky was in poor shape: he was severely matted, malnourished, was covered in fleas and had overgrown nails and rotting teeth. According to a Facebook post, the shelter shaved his fur, gave him a medical workup and provided a life-saving treatment for the elderly dog.

The family was reportedly in “utter disbelief” after the shelter called them to let them know their old dog was found: the miracle they had waited for had finally come true.

“They were absolutely devastated when he wasn’t found, as they did everything they could but had no luck in finding him,” Dorchester Paws wrote. “All they hoped for was for him to be found and scanned. They waited by the phone for years, waiting for the phone call.”

“Tears were had by all, as this impossible journey was completed, Mr. B can rest peacefully with the family that rescued him from a shelter all those years ago.”

It’s a heartwarming story, and the shelter says it’s also an important reminder to get your pets microchipped.

“Microchips truly are life saving and the best way to get a lost pet back home,” Dorchester Paws wrote.