Lost Dogs of Broward and Dade County FB page was another where community members who assist and support owners of lost pets celebrated the happy news. If we missed others we THANK YOU for sharing Pepper’s story when lost and the happy reunion news.
Pepper had been missing for 264 days!
But on THIS day, that would all change.
Pepper’s Escape
Pepper the husky was living the good life on a boat he now called home, having moved from France to Florida. He loved his time on the water with his parents, where the bow of the boat was one of his favorite spots.
On March 18 of this year he nudged his way through a door on the boat that was left partially ajar. Before his parents knew it he had escaped to the adjoining marina and traveled over a draw bridge.
Parents Steph and Jennifer quickly went in hot pursuit and shortly learned from motorists that they had seen Pepper heading back over the bridge heading home.
His mom recounts his escape:
“He apparently crossed the bridge and spent some time on the other side of the river and then was heading back over the bridge when one of his paws got stuck in the grate.
Astor Bridge Marina
A couple (with the help of someone else) put him into their truck (they had a leash) and told the guy who had helped them that they would take him to a shelter. But they never did.
I called every shelter and vet around, we placed ads in newspapers, put up posters, advertised on the Astor radio station and I put notices everywhere on Facebook. (I can’t tell you how depressing it was to discover how many dogs are stolen and go missing — I had never heard of dogs being used as “bait dogs” and this terrified me, though I figured that with Pepper being a purebred husky, it wasn’t likely he was taken for this reason. I also discovered what an amazing bunch of people there are who try to help people like us find their missing pets.
So many people contacted me when they saw that a husky had been found…but unfortunately, it was never Pepper). I figured that if we ever were to get Pepper back (and I never lost hope about this) it would be because he was microchipped. (My one worry was that, as he was born in France and had a French microchip, it wouldn’t be readable in the US, even though I made sure all the contact details were up to date with the chip company.)”
Mom also made sure to list his microchip on a free site in the United States to help ensure his chip info would be found should he be scanned.
THE CALL!
Jennifer shared the unexpected, but welcome news!
“On Dec. 7 — 264 days after Pepper went missing — Steph got a phone call from the Marion County Animal Services and their first words were: “We have Pepper.” Apparently one of the people who found him had taken him there to be neutered. MCAS people scanned him for a microchip and discovered that his chip showed he was listed as stolen. The guy who brought him in told them he thought Pepper was a stray. But in fact, Florida law requires people who find animals — which are considered property — to try to find the owner. And to be honest, I don’t believe that he thought Pepper was a stray.
Although I’d taken Pepper’s bandana off the morning he escaped because it needed a wash, he was hardly a dog that looked like a stray. He always wore the bandana because the heavy leather collar with his tags mashed down his neck fur; we now have a lightweight collar with those tags on it, and he’ll wear it 24/7).
I can’t tell you how much Steph missed that dog … Losing Pepper tore a hole in his heart and he has cried many tears. Now, at least, they are tears of joy.”
This video of the moment Steph first saw Pepper at Marion County Animal Services was taken by his friend who drove him the 45 minutes or so to pick up Pepper soon after he received the call!
Lots of love being shared during reunion in the lobby of Marion County Animal Services!
According to Wendy Hillyard, Animal Center Manager at Marion County Animal Services, “our policy is to scan animals upon arrival/pick up, anytime we move them from cage to cage, prior to surgery if applicable, and once again before they leave. The reason we scan each animal so many times is to eliminate the possibility of technical or human error.
We assume all animals have a microchip and it is our goal to find it. Perhaps one day, all will be microchipped and shelters can more easily reunite lost pets with their owners.”
Thanks to the Marion County Animal Services staff, Pepper was successfully scanned and chip detected, AND they skillfully responded to the fact that his chip info indicated he was reported as stolen.
The call was made to Steph and the happy ending is now history!
Back Home
Steph quickly noticed that, in addition to being dirty, he was also covered in fleas. Once home he immediately gave him a sorely needed bath, and scheduled a visit to the vet. Other than the fleas, and an apparently healed broken toe (which likely occurred when his paw got caught in the draw bridge grate), Pepper seems healthy and VERY happy to be back home. Steph reflects that Pepper’s behavior “seems to say that he’s been waiting for this moment to come home and relax”.
Pics below of happy times before Pepper went missing.
Wordpress Photo Gallery
Steph is over the moon to have his fast companion Pepper back by his side and at his feet. Months of sleepless nights are now a thing of the past.
Steph says that he hopes that by telling the story about Pepper, others will be encouraged to get their pets microchipped. “I always felt that someday his microchip would bring him home to us”.
And so it did!
Note: A collar with ID tags is not only an essential “partner” to microchipping your pet for the contact info. A found pet with a collar on JUST MIGHT distinguish in a finder’s mind that the pet is a missing “owned pet” vs. a “stray”.
Always think LOST not STRAY regardless!
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!
#LoveTagChip
