For one family in Arizona, this Thanksgiving will be extra special! Their beloved dog Brownie, who went missing 9 years ago, is amazingly home at the age of 15!
That Fateful Day
The day that Brownie went missing was a day of great commotion around owner Amy’s house. In fact Amy was in the hospital at the time, so family members were quite occupied with circumstances at hand. So when a door was opened and Brownie slipped out, it was not immediately noticed. Living in a community where neighbors all knew Brownie, the family was horrified to learn later that nobody in the neighborhood had seen him or taken him in.
Fast Forward
As one can imagine after 9 years, Brownie’s owner wasn’t remotely expecting to have someone reach out to her about a dog that was recently found and that they suspected it might be hers!
Enter Lisa Vitorovich, Adoption’s Coordinator with Arizona Shih Tzu and Small Breed Rescue, owned and directed by Kathy Hamel. This not-for-profit private rescue is no stranger to calls from individuals who find abandoned pets or even owner surrenders of dogs that fit into their “small breed” focus.
Recently they were contacted about a senior Shih Tzu who is both visually and hearing impaired, apparently abandoned at a Tattoo Shop in the West Valley. The person who found the dog was unable to keep or find the owner, so they contacted the rescue.
While the rescue was pretty full, they could not see turning him away! Transport was arranged and they took this adorable guy in.
Senior Brownie after being taken in by rescue.
As is their normal mode of operation, the rescue scanned him for a microchip, realizing that despite his condition he might well be someone’s pet.
A microchip was located, but was at least 6 years old. It was an AKC microchip and they were contacted. Due to confidentiality issues, the microchip company was only able to confirm that they called the numbers associated with the chip, but would not release information. They did indicate that the dog may have been missing a “long” time. They also said the chip had been registered with Home Again 6 years after it was registered with them.
Determined to do all she could to find the owner, Lisa called Home Again, again identifying herself with Arizona Shih Tzu and Small Breed Rescue. “They were much more forthcoming and gave me the name of the registered owner the name of the dog as well as the numbers associated with the dogs registration. It was registered to an Amy Baca. His name was Brownie. But the numbers were disconnected.”
The rescue reached out on social media in an effort to find Brownie’s owner. Still no luck. Lisa continued her search, doing a google search on Amy’s name and several came up. She took a shot at one that was in the West Valley and on Facebook. “I pm’d her … and sure enough, it’s her dog …. taken from her front yard NINE years ago.”
Lisa announced the happy news! “Her mother is flying in tomorrow from San Diego cutting her vacation short. They have searched for Brownie for YEARS…they finally stopped searching. They are stunned and shedding happy tears! This is a great story and also is a testament to microchipping your pets and what we, as well as what hundreds of rescues and animal lovers do here and across the country day in and day out. It takes a village, but it’s happy endings such as these are the reason we do what we do. ”
Never Forgotten
Amy says that the family’s efforts continued for days, weeks, months, posting flyers and going door to door. In fact, Amy’s mom still had Brownie’s lost flyer in her car to this day.
Brownie’s Lost Pet Flyer
Curiously his lost pet flyer disappeared from other flyers posted at local stores, suggesting perhaps he was residing somewhere in the general vicinity. In fact, he was found abandoned just five miles away from his “home”!
Home at Last
Brownie was formally picked up and brought “HOME” last Friday!
When he first arrived home he seemed tired, but just within the past day or so, his energy and spirits seem to be picking up.
Despite the many years and his diminished eyesight and hearing, Brownie seems to have retained his memory of “home”.
Fur mom Amy was shocked to see him wander to an area in the backyard where his favorite “tree” once stood to do his “business”. And his favorite game of “peek-a-boo” has not been forgotten. When Amy’s mom, who was very close to Brownie, sat on the floor near him, it appeared that his nose “knew” just who she was!
Brownie now has a fur sister “Bella” a tea cup Pomeranian who follows him around in a loving way.
Early this week Brownie will go to the family vet to evaluate the medical care he needs. In addition to his severely diminished eye sight and hearing, his teeth are in extremely bad shape and will need to be addresssed. He’s been bathed to try to calm his itchy skin, and is receiving vitamins in his water (since it is hard to eat).
Despite all of this Amy and her family are so grateful to the person who found him and contacted the rescue, along with rescue’s willingness to take him under their wing and Lisa’s dedication to find his owner!
Brownie resting comfortably at home.
Once a very spoiled pup, Brownie will again receive the same everlasting love “for as many days as he has left” says Amy who clearly is a strong proponent of microchips and reiterates the need to keep information updated, regardless of many years gone by.
Would You Like to Help?
If you would like to help defray some of the anticipated medical costs Brownie’s family will soon be incurring, please visit their Go Fund Me page.
A HUGE THANK YOU must go to Arizona Shih Tzu and Small Breed Rescue, in particular Lisa who never gave up, as well as to Lost Dogs Arizona who tuned us in to this wonderful story.
Remember to microchip, register, and keep your contact info updated!
Even if your pet has gone missing and it’s been some time, you might one day get that miracle call!
To visit the home page for our
Monday Microchip Miracles blog
click here to read other happy reunion tales!