( CNN ) -- When Chuck and Elicia James ventured to their local animal shelter to adopt a dog , they expected to meet a new member of their family . Instead they found themselves reunited with their long lost canine . The James ' had not seen Reckless , a brown and white terrier-pitbull mix , since he went missing over a year and a half ago during Superstorm Sandy . They had lost their beloved pup after the fence in their Keansburg , New Jersey , home was mangled during the storm , Chuck James told CNN on Friday . While the family never stopped looking for Reckless , for their 10-year-old daughter 's birthday they decided it was time to move on and adopt a new dog at the Monmouth County SPCA . To their surprise , the first dog they were introduced to was one named Lucas , who had a striking resemblance to their former pup . `` He jumped 3 feet in the air , '' James said . `` He immediately recognized us . And then the tears came -- there was n't a dry eye in the place . '' The James ' confirmed it was their dog based on an uncanny scar on the top of his head . `` After Sandy , we had so many animals being turned in , '' said Jerry Rosenthal , president and CEO of the animal shelter . Rosenthal told CNN that 3-year-old Reckless ended up at the shelter last November after an employee found him on the streets . Rosenthal believes Reckless was taken in by another family for a period of time before he once again got loose . Rosenthal said the James ' story really emphasizes the importance of getting your pet microchipped . Microchipping is a process in which an animal is implanted with a rice-sized chip that is used to identify him or her . `` If Reckless had been microchipped , we could have reunited him with his family much sooner , '' he said . `` We love happy endings . I always tell people our goal is to prevent animals from coming into the shelter except when we can get them back to their original owners , '' Rosenthal said . The James family is still displaced from their home after it was destroyed by Sandy . They are currently residing at a local hotel with Reckless after the hotel happily allowed him to stay . The James ' 10-year-old daughter was absolutely ecstatic with Reckless ' return and the two have been inseparable since , Chuck James told CNN while on a family weekend camping trip . `` The only thing I can say now is I am finally on a vacation with all the members of our family again , '' said James .
Chuck and Elicia had lost their dog during Hurricane Sandy a year and a half ago . While looking to adopt a new one , he was the very first one introduced to them . ` ` He jumped ten feet in the air , '' he tells CNN . ` ` We love happy dogs , '' animal shelter CEO says .