Pam Bowen and her dog JoJo have been together for nine years. One day while Bowen was watching her grandchildren, JoJo had to be let outside to go to the rest room by her self. After about 30 minutes Bowen got concerned why JoJo had not returned. After a year of searching for JoJo, Bowen found her again through Pet of the Week.

"After a year of being separated, they (Bowen and JoJo) were reunited about a month ago," Mandy Cooke, daughter of Bowen, said.

JoJo disappeared off of Findlay Street in Portsmouth.

"Usually JoJo would not have left her side; they are inseparable," Cook explained.

"When I was home with the grandkids I would oftentime let the downstairs door cracked and let JoJo out. She would go to the lot next door and come right back in. She was never out more than five or 10 minutes at the most," Bowen said. "After 10 minutes I had gotten one of the girls (Bowen's daughters) to come home. I had gotten in my car and went looking for (JoJo)."

Bowen explained that by the next day she had made flyers with JoJo's picture which she placed all over town with a reward.

"I got sick because I was not able to find her. It was like I lost one of my kids," Bowen explained.

She never gave up on finding JoJo. She always knew she was out there somewhere.

"I always check the paper looking for her in the lost and found. I opened the Community Common and she was featured as 'Pet of the Week'," Bowen said.

She explained she started crying and shaking when she first saw her.

"There would be days that I would go visit her (Bowen) and she would be depressed over JoJo," Cook said.

"My youngest daughter saw I was crying and she thought I was looking at the obituaries. I then told her I was looking at JoJo. She did not believe me and kept trying to talk me out of believing it was her. I know it was her," Bowen said.

JoJo had been at Sierra's Haven since August. They found her on the street with no hair and had suffered a stroke.

"They took her in and took care of her and she had become one of their favorites and had the run of her place," Bowen said.

When the two were reunited their relationship had rekindled.

Things have changed a little since JoJo has been reunited with Bowen. "I never let her out of my sight. Now I make time to take her outside three times a day. She is now on heart medicine which she has to have twice a day.

"I think I got my miracle of the lifetime," Bowen said.

There are many animals available at Sierra's Haven that are up for adoption. For more information about the animals and services they have to offer call 353-5100.