Miniature Doberman pincher Damian with Paul Guilbeaut in 2016. (Image: Paul Guilbeaut / SWNS)
Paul Guilbeaut, 43, was moving from Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Mesa, Arizona when they made a pit stop in Oklahoma City and his beloved miniature Doberman pincher, Damian, now 13, ran off.
During an evening stroll, the pooch managed to slip free from his lead and vanished into the night.
Paul, his dad and his friend, went out looking for Damian for eight days – putting flyers up and posting online but had no success.
For years, Paul continued to search for Damian but faced the reality that Damian was either with a new family or had died.
Damian was missing for eight years before he was found (Image: Paul Guilbeaut / SWNS)
But eight years later, on January 15 2025, Paul was travelling to California to donate clothes to fire victims when he got a random text from the American Kennel Club saying that Damian had been found.
Following a heart-racing 13-hour drive, the pair were reunited, clinging to each other in a display of unbreakable bond and mutual adoration.
Overcome with emotion, Paul, a talented photographer and event producer, said: “I went on for years searching and hoping we would find Damian but after a few years the search dwindled.
“I faced the reality that he was either dead or had been found by someone else.
“I really wish I knew what had happened to him all those years.
Miniature Doberman pincher Damian (Image: Paul Guilbeaut / SWNS)
“Ever since we reunited we haven’t skipped a beat, it was so surreal to see him.
“I didn’t know how to feel apart from overwhelming joy and happiness.”
Paul recalled that his father and a friend were on a 2,656-mile journey from Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Mesa, Arizona when they stopped in Oklahoma City.
During the stop, Paul took Damian for a walk, but the dog slipped his lead and ran off, with Paul unable to catch him.
The moment Damian and Paul were reunited (Image: Paul Guilbeaut / SWNS)
“We continued searching for Damian until 1am when my dad said we should call it a night and head out again in the morning.
“We searched for eight days, we had to extend our hotel stay and extend our rental on our truck.”
Despite spending thousands of dollars, there came a point where his father insisted they move on to Arizona due to the mounting costs.
However, Paul never lost hope and continued to post on Facebook groups and distribute flyers. Sadly, as time passed, the search dwindled and Paul accepted that Damian was gone.
The moment Damian and Paul were reunited (Image: Paul Guilbeaut / SWNS)
But a glimmer of hope came nearly a decade later: “On the way up to California, I got a bunch of calls but I was driving so I didn’t answer.
“I then got a text from the American Kennel Club saying that Damian had been found.”
Initially sceptical, thinking it was a scam, his husband called the number and confirmed it was real.
On New Year’s Eve, Donna Bentley found Damian after nearly hitting him with her car.
She took Damian to her brother, Rick Chambers, who took the dog to the vet. Damian was scanned for a microchip, which turned up Paul’s contact details.
Paul and Damian have not left each other’s side (Image: Paul Guilbeaut / SWNS)
“It feels like we’ve never been separated,” Paul said about his reunion with Damian.
“Damian is older now, so we had to take things slow at first. He’s been an absolute dream, just as easy-going as when he was younger, and he loves to cuddle. Whenever I leave the room, he follows me; he doesn’t want me out of his sight.”
Paul has started a GoFundMe campaign for Damian (Image: Paul Guilbeaut / SWNS)
To help with the cost of vet bills, given the uncertainty of where Damian has been for the past eight years, Paul has set up a GoFundMe page. The link to the page is: