Bill Gerstein's missing Maltese-Pomeranian mix was found in Paterson.
PATERSON - Bill Gerstein of Delray Beach, Fla. had almost given up hope of ever being reunited with his dog, Bella, who disappeared from the Sunshine State on Dec. 13, 2013.
"We searched, we put up signs," Gerstein told a reporter with WPTV.com in West Palm Beach.
As months turned into years, Gerstein began to accept that Bella, a Maltese-Pomeranian mix, was gone.
Then last Tuesday, he received an email from an animal shelter in Paterson.
They had Bella.
Gerstein told the TV station he immediately booked a flight to New Jersey and headed straight to the animal shelter.
The dog had a microchip. Gerstein later learned a family had taken care of Bella for nine months until the dog ran away again. That's when the animal shelter picked her up and traced her to Gerstein.
The Florida resident says he has no idea how the dog got to New Jersey.
"I wish that she talked, I wish she was wearing a GoPro or something like that because she has some story to tell," he told WPTV.
Gerstein has dubbed the adventure a "Thanksgiving Miracle."
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.