Social media campaign reunites handicapped man with missing dog

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — For about a month, Kevin Young had no idea where his dog, Poupee, was, or if he was even alive.

Young, a quadriplegic from New Smyrna Beach, had surgery in January and his nurse agreed to watch Poupee while he recovered.

Poupee escaped from the nurse’s Holly Hill home and disappeared.

A massive social media campaign ensued when a post on the Volusia County Lost and Found Pets Facebook page went viral.

The operator of the site also contacted the Holly Hill Police Department, which sent out a mass email to city employees.

A city employee spotted Poupee running loose in the 800 block of Daytona Avenue and called the Police Department.

Holly Hill police Lt. Christopher Yates and a team of officers organized a search of the area and when Poupee was again spotted, he ran.

The police officers followed and after chasing the dog for 30 minutes, Poupee was finally caught.

“You can run, Poupee, but you can’t hide from the law,” Yates joked when the dog was in hand.

After living on the streets of Holly Hill for a month, Poupee was filthy, but otherwise healthy, the Holly Hill Police Department said.

He was taken to a local grooming company, Bark, Bath and Beyond, where he received a complimentary makeover.

Several hours later, Young was reunited with Poupee, who immediately jumped from Yates’ arms onto his owner’s bed.

Cox Media Group