Dog named Sandy back after storm

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NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- A New York dog separated from his family during Hurricane Sandy -- a storm that shares the canine's name -- was reunited with his owners.

Sandy the golden retriever was reunited Friday with the Baron family in Queens after he went missing nearly two weeks ago when the storm blew open the doors of the family home, the New York Daily News reported Monday.

Harvey Baron, a New York City Transit electronics specialist, and his family said they searched for the dog, but were unable to find any trace of their pet. Police said an officer found the dog in the lobby at St. Johns Hospital and brought him to a Brooklyn Animal Care & Control Shelter.

Rescuers were able to identify Sandy's owners from a microchip, but they were unable to reach the Barons because their power, phone service and mail service were interrupted by the storm.

Phyllis Taiano, who works for the shelter, said she decided to drive Sandy directly to his home Friday.

"Out comes a gentleman and I announced who I was and asked if he had lost his dog; his eyes lit up and he said, 'Yes, where is he?' and he began to cry," Taiano.

Baron said finding the dog was particularly important to him and his children due to the recent death of his wife.

"He's part of our family and we missed him so much," he said.