DENVER — A big surprise for a Denver family who gave up a long time ago on seeing their dog again.

They said, “Well, we have a dog here who fits your chip … who’s in Chicago .. and she’s been gone for four years,” said Denver resident Kelly Booker.

Their pup disappeared in 2011.

Just a few weeks ago, “Lilly” was found in the Chicago area.

The little lady made it 1,100 miles, likely with a little help but only Lilly knows how she got where she is now for sure.

“She was our favorite dog.  She smiled. She actually smiled,” Booker said.   It was a smile that her owner says could launch 10,000 … hence her name her full name “Lilly GF.”

“G-F stands for girlfriend.  She was like my favorite little girlfriend, just teeth– and she even smiled like a human,” Booker said.

Lilly disappeared from Kelly Booker’s home in Denver. But they aren’t sure if she was stolen from her backyard or ran away to escape the loud boom of Fourth of July fireworks.

“When she disappeared, we looked everywhere for her. We put signs up everywhere and we just kind of figured out something bad had happened to her,” Booker said.

When the message came from an animal shelter in the city of Chambord, Illinois a week ago, they were in disbelief.

Thanks to a microchip they put in Lilly years ago, the shelter traced the rightful owner of the spunky 9-year-old Shih Tzu mix.

Volunteers at the shelter have nursed Lilly back to health. She had a severe ear infection and her fur was matted.

“I wish we had a camera on her– that would be interesting to see,” Booker said.

It won’t be long before Lilly heads back those thousand miles, through four states, to finally get home.

“That’s how I’ll know it’s her if she smiles and gives me a big cheese, then I’ll know everything is good to go,” Booker said.

Plans are being made to get Lilly back to Denver.

With shots, a shelter stay and a plane ride, the total could run Booker more than $700.

He’s working on raising the money.  If you would like to help donate, visit his GoFundMe page.