ATLANTA -- Tex was either dog-napped or ran away 2 years ago – just as his owner had returned to Fort Benning from Iraq.

Days ago, someone discovered the dog wandering near Lake Lanier in Forsyth County. Now Tex is headed for a reunion with his family – who now live near Lacrosse, Wisconsin.

Three-year-old Tex – a rat terrier – has logged lots of miles.

He disappeared 2 years ago when his dad, Nick Rabe, had just returned to Fort Benning from duty overseas.

“He got back from Iraq and they went on leave to visit us in Wisconsin and the neighbors were watching him and someone decided to grab him out of the yard,” says Nick’s brother Joe.

Tex turned up wandering at Lake Lanier a few weeks ago and was brought to the Forsyth County Animal Shelter.

A microchip implanted in Tex told his tale of wandering woes.

“When an animal is brought in, we scan them to make sure. They usually have a little chip between their shoulder blades and we just scan and pick up the number,” explains an animal control employee.

They traced Tex back to Nick and Nicole – long since moved from Georgia back to Wisconsin. It took days to track them down on the internet.

Today, Tex’s Uncle Joe drove 2 days from Wisconsin to bring Tex home.

Tex’s Dad, Joe’s brother Nick and sister-in-law Nicole are waiting anxiously back in Wisconsin.

“My brother’s been waiting to see him two years now. He’s really excited,” says Joe.

Tex – an original member of the family, arriving even before Nick’s son came along.

“My brother’s really excited – he can’t wait. He said, ‘I don’t really know if I should say it, but he’s more happy now than when his wife got pregnant.”

Joe has another 2 day drive back to Wisconsin ahead of him. And now Tex will have some competition -- the Rabes' recently got another dog -- a white German Shepherd named Max.