Watch The Reunion Of This Dog And Her Family 2 Years After She Was Stolen

HOWELL, NJ — Two years ago, Cali was living a life surrounded by a loving family. Then one day she disappeared — stolen out of the Long Island backyard of her family's home.

What happened between then and Sunday isn't fully clear, according to the staff at Broken Promises Sanctuary in Howell Township, where Cali, a 5-year-old Rhodesian ridgeback, has been for the last two months. They believe she had been abused and neglected, however, and when she stumbled into a gas station at a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike, she was near death, Anita Innamorata Stout, vice president of the sanctuary, said.

But Cali had some guardian angels looking out for her, because not only did the gas station attendant take care of her, but a young Navy recruit drove the dog drove the dog to Broken Promises Sanctuary, where they could provide care. Cali was emaciated. She was bleeding from her nose.

According to a report by the Asbury Park Press, the Navy recruit, Alexandra Salomon, saw the attendant, Wesley Baker, offering Cali some water as he tried to figured out what. Salomon offered to call an animal rescue that her mother knew, and ended up taking Cali to her home overnight before transporting her to Broken Promises Sanctuary. Baker filled Salomon's tank with gas and donated money for Cali's care, Stout said, out of gratitude to Salomon for helping the dog.

Once at the rescue, Stout said, staff members set to work, getting her emergency veterinary care from Dr. Mary Kwacz of Mobile Vet MD: blood tests, X-rays, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, intravenous fluids, subcutaneous fluids and feeding Cali lots of home-cooked food.

As they examined her, they found she had a microchip — and that the chip was registered. Stout told the Asbury Park Press that it took several tries before she was finally able to reach Brittney diBartolo, the owner. The family had moved to North Carolina, but when Stout told diBartolo the rescue had their dog, the woman was overjoyed. That's when they learned she had the name Cali, Stout said.

Cali was too weak at first to return home and in addition, Stout said, they discovered she had a tumor growing in her nasal cavity and sinus. A specialty veterindary hospital in Pennsylvania was contacted and agreed to treat Cali with a specialized radiation procedure, Stout said in a May 12 post on a GoFundme campaign created to help cover the costs of Cali's care, which exceeded $18,000. As of June 5, the campaign has raised just over $8,000. Click here for more information and to contribute.

After two months of treatment and care, Cali was finally ready to go home with her family, and on Sunday the sanctuary made sure she was not only reunited with her family but also with Baker and Salomon.

If you've ever doubted whether a dog knows its owners, all you have to do is watch Cali's reaction to her family. Make sure you grab the tissues.

Photos via Broken Promises Sanctuary video and Facebook page