Two years ago, Shelby’s beloved American Bully Roxy was stolen from her home in Texas. Shelby got Roxy as a puppy at an important time in her life, so in addition to loving her as her “daughter”, this loss was extremely difficult loss to handle.
The Early Days
Photos provided by Shelby
When she reported Roxy as missing with the microchip company, she realized what so many people find out after the fact. When Roxy’s chip was implanted, the fee paid did not include registration/activation! So she was able to register the chip at that time.
While she posted Roxy on numerous missing pet sites, she knew it was realistic that she might never see her again. With little hope that she would get Roxy back, Shelby added a new dog to her family to help fill the void in her heart and named her Callie.
A Knock on the Door
In early January, the new year started for Shelby in an amazing way when she received a knock on her door! Animal control staff from the Kirby Animal Shelter informed her they had been trying to contact her by phone without any luck, and that showing up at the address was there last ditch effort to let her know they had Roxy at their shelter! Shelby was informed that the shelter would be closing soon, and she could come the next day. In a happy panic Shelby scrambled to head over to be reunited immediately!
According to Kirby Animal Shelter (KAS) Director January Dugan they had received a stray animal report, and happily were able to find and capture the dog. Once she was brought into the shelter she was scanned for a microchip. While the chip was detected, the phone number associated with it did not work. However, shelter staff were able to track down a home location for the owner, even though she had moved during the two year time period.
Roxy’s stray picture from Kirby Animal Shelter.
KAS was the scene of happy tearful reunion as shared in this enthusiastic post on their FB page:
“Microchips work!
Roxy had been missing for two years after a home invasion. Today we were able to reunite her with her family!! Tears were flowing freely as Roxy and her mama hugged 
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Please have all of your pets microchipped and keep the information current. You never know when your missing pet will be found. Kirby animal shelter microchips for $10.”
Video provided by Kirby Animal Shelter
Owner Shelby replied to the post saying:
“Thank you guys so much I cannot begin to express how much having my baby back means to me over two years of prayers were answered today.”
When Roxy was stolen, Shelby honestly thought she would never see her again. Her now 5 year old pup has settled in quickly back home, with her little fur sister Callie. In fact, she’s apparently taking the pet training tips she had learned years ago and reinforcing them with Callie.
Shelby has learned some of the things that can go wrong with microchips in terms of disconnects on registering and keeping info updated. While she clearly believed in them before, she is an even more ardent proponent for microchips and pet owner education to make sure the microchips are able to do what they are set out to do … return lost pets to their owners.
Roxy on left and her new fur sibling Callie
Back home after two years, it didn’t take Roxy long to catch up on snuggles with Shelby.
For this reason, it’s vital to contact your pet’s microchip provider to check your info on file. Sometimes when pets are microchipped their registration is done by whomever is doing the microchipping. Others require that you pay and register the fee. It’s also a good idea to routinely have your pet’s microchip scanned when taking them to the vet to be sure the chip scans as microchips sometimes migrate from where they are first embedded.
Based on Roxy’s reunion video it is evident that Roxy and Shelby are equally thrilled about being reunited once again! Welcome home Roxy.
About Kirby Animal Care Services
In preparing this story and talking to Director January Dugan, we learned more about this small but progressive shelter!
One FB testimonial perfectly sums it up by saying “The best little shelter that makes big things happen. 
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Below is how KAS describes itself, which includes its’ heart, but also the struggles that shelters face, along with their need for community involvement.
Kirby Animal Care Services is an open-intake animal control facility serving the City of Kirby, TX. Our mission is to provide excellence in animal services to our community and to create programs within our community that promote responsibility, compassion and foster the human-animal bond. Since June 2011, we have not had to euthanize a single adoptable animal for space, and we have worked hard and round-the-clock to make Kirby a no-kill community. As an open admissions shelter that accepts all animals in need from our community, regardless of our space situation, we cannot always guarantee that we will never have to euthanize an animal, but our current no-kill status is the result of our staff and volunteers’ hard work to save as many lives as possible. Our community must step up and be a part of the solution as well for Kirby to continue it’s no-kill mission.
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!
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