Owner and pit bull have emotional reunion after four months and a thousand miles apart

The best feeling in the world is when you bring a new dog home. It's a new member of the family, and you work to make it safe and happy place for your new best friend. On the other hand, it's the worst feeling in the world when your canine companion disappears.

Houston dog owner Dara Prak experienced that awful feeling when his pit bull, Titan, was dognapped from his secure backyard. The collar was left behind, and Titan was gone. Prak searched local shelters and put out the word via social media for more than three months with no luck.

"I never lost hope. I continued to carry his leash and collar in my car with even higher hopes of the day I see him and bring him home," Prak said in a YouTube post.

Then, a miracle occurred, courtesy of the microchip implanted under Titan's skin. A shelter in South Carolina called Prak, saying it had a pit bull with a microchip registered to him. Titan had been found – a thousand miles from home and in pretty bad shape.

Shelter workers said it appeared Titan had been badly abused, but Prak will never know for sure what happened.

Prak did not hesitate to drive across country with his girlfriend to be reunited with his beloved dog. He cried when Titan was brought out, wearing a large e-collar and with one eye swollen shut.

But his tail was wagging mightily, and that's all that mattered as Prak hugged him tightly.

Reunited and safe at home, Titan was expected to make a full recovery.