When Hurricane Laura struck Louisiana in 2020, Debbie LaFleur lost more than just power and peace of mind—she lost her beloved Yorkie, Kingston. After years of heartbreak, she received the shock of a lifetime: her dog had been found 300 miles away, living it up at a fraternity house.
Chaos, Then Silence
In the storm’s aftermath, debris blanketed Lake Charles, and officials scrambled to assess damage. LaFleur came home one day to a cracked window and an empty house—Kingston had vanished.
“We had had Kingston for six years by this time. He was part of our lives. He was our baby,” LaFleur said in an interview with USA TODAY. “Everybody on Facebook was trying to help us locate him, but it was like, ‘We’re not gonna get him back.’”
Though their home remained standing, LaFleur and her husband, Joseph, were devastated by Kingston’s disappearance.
An Unexpected Email—and a Long Drive
Nearly five years later, an email from PetLink, a GPS tracking service, shattered the silence: Kingston had been found at a college fraternity in Mississippi. LaFleur and her son drove over four hours to the University of Southern Mississippi, where the Kappa Sigma fraternity was caring for her long-lost dog.
“I just said, ‘Kingston, come to Mommy,’” she recalled. “And he just took off running, which made my heart burst. It was wonderful to see him.”
Now 11 years old, Kingston has returned home—and met Cooper, a 3-year-old Shih Tzu who’s quickly become his new best friend.
The Yorkie Known as ‘Benji’
The brothers of Kappa Sigma found Kingston outside their door on March 30. Not knowing his name, they dubbed him Benji and made him an honorary member for the week.
Fraternity President Neal Rachal said he tried to find the dog’s owner and eventually took him to the vet, where they discovered the microchip. The fraternity contacted LaFleur through PetLink and kept Kingston safe until she could arrive.
“He went everywhere with us,” Rachal said. “Softball games, Walmart, grocery runs—he was just one of the guys.”
A Touching Tribute to Her Late Husband
Kingston and Joseph, LaFleur’s husband, had shared a strong bond. “He had to have a plate of food when my husband did,” she said. “He was his best friend.”
Tragically, Joseph passed away in a work accident in 2022. LaFleur believes it’s no coincidence Kingston came back when he did. “I feel like I have a piece of my husband back,” she said.
A Reminder for Pet Owners Everywhere
LaFleur credits Kingston’s safe return to a decision they made when he was just three months old—getting him microchipped.
“If you love your little fur baby, get them chipped,” she said. “No matter where in the world they end up, that chip can bring them back.”
