SAN DIEGO (UPI) -- A New Mexico man was reunited with his dog, which had been missing for three years, after it was found in San Diego.

According to the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services, Ricardo Dominguez received the call that his 7-year-old labrador Brownie had been found while driving on Friday night.

County Animal Services found Dominguez's information by scanning the dog's microchip and contacted Dominguez's girlfriend, who ultimately delivered him the news.

Dominguez, a general contractor, then drove non-stop for 720 miles from a job site in El Paso, Texas to San Diego to meet up with his long lost pet.

"He looks up through the door at me in my cowboy hat, and his eyes were, wow is that you?" He said. His eyes went wide, and he went wild, started dragging the person on the leash, and he came and jumped on me and went crazy!

Dominguez said Brownie used to travel with him just about everywhere, but believed the dog was stolen when he left him under someone else's watch at a horse ranch while attending a meeting.

He also said he was thankful that he had Brownie microchipped as County Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson said microchips often help lost animals find their way home.

"I can't tell you how many times a microchip has made all the difference in reuniting a lost pet with his owner," Danielson said. We have success story after success story. It's such a small investment and the rewards are huge.

The journey has seemingly made Brownie more territorial, but Dominguez said he will work with the dog to restore him to his old self.

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