Joy Behar Chokes Up on The View as She Recounts Heart-Stopping Moment Her Dog Went Missing During July 4 Fireworks

Joy Behar got visibly emotional during Tuesday’s episode of The View, sharing a harrowing personal story that left her and her family shaken over the Independence Day holiday.

The 80-year-old host has recently taken some time away from the show, spending the summer out on Long Island with her husband Steve and close friends. But while the break was meant to be relaxing, Joy revealed that a terrifying incident turned one night into a nightmare.

Speaking to her co-hosts, she nearly teared up as she recounted what happened to her beloved Shih Tzu, Bernie, during the Fourth of July festivities.

Whoopi Goldberg, 67, opened the conversation by complimenting Joy and asking where she had been. “You look fantastic. So tell us—what’s been going on?” she asked.

Joy responded with a smile that quickly faded into concern: “Thank you… but honestly, last week aged me about five years in one day.”

She then explained that on the night before the Fourth, when fireworks were already going off in her neighborhood, something terrible happened.

“Steve opened the door, it was completely dark outside, and suddenly—we realized Bernie was gone,” she said, her voice trembling. “Our little Shih Tzu just vanished.”

The screen showed a photo of Bernie, prompting a collective “aww” from the audience. “There he is,” Joy said affectionately. “The little rascal. He got scared by the fireworks and bolted.”

Panic set in immediately. “We tore through the house, checked every corner, ran outside with flashlights—nothing,” Joy said. “I called my daughter. Neighbors came out. We were all looking. I was absolutely frantic. It was pitch black out.”

She paused to hold back tears. “My heart was in my throat. He’s so small… I was terrified he’d be hit by a car or get lost for good.”

When Whoopi asked if he was hiding somewhere, Joy replied: “No! He took off! My daughter even called the police. They issued some kind of alert. I got in my car, driving around with the high beams on. Someone yelled, ‘What are you doing?’ I almost screamed, ‘I’m looking for my dog!’” she said with a nervous laugh.

Joy continued, “Steve ran into the nearby town. A police officer told him the police chief had just found a dog… and there he was—Bernie—safe in the chief’s arms.”

As the audience erupted into applause, Joy placed her hands over her heart, clearly still overwhelmed by the ordeal. “It was one of the scariest nights of my life,” she said. “But thank God, it had a happy ending.”

The moment served as a powerful reminder of how deeply pets can become part of the family—and how quickly joy can turn into fear when they’re suddenly gone.