A family in the neighborhood found their beloved pet almost ten years ago, after they had been missing for a while.
After nine-and-a-half years of searching for their dog, a local veterinarian called the family to inform them that their dog had been found. After having observed the animal, they inquired about its ownership and took her to the veterinarian.
Rocky, the schnauzer, was found wandering about McPherson. The person brought it to Criter Care Veterinary Clinic since it seemed like it hadn’t gotten a haircut in a while. Once there, they checked the area for microchips and discovered one because records indicated who the dog’s original owners were.
After confirming the dog’s identity, according to Dr. Sandra Leyendecker, the owner, Lizette Edwards, was contacted and shocked to see Rocky when she visited the veterinary facility. The vet confirmed with the owner by looking at family photos.
“Rocky came into our family back in 2013,” Edwards said. “She was my daughter’s first pet (and) instantly fell in love with it because she was our first family pet. Everything was done, even the registration and microchip. At the time, we didn’t think much of it. We just did it because it was required.”
Edwards claims Rocky lost her life ten years ago when a gate was accidentally left open. The loss of Kayla’s best friend, who was only a young girl at the time of the occurrence, left the family inconsolable.
They designed flyers and distributed them throughout the area. They also called local animal hospitals. They searched shelters in an attempt to find their beloved pet. Rocky was not found until that point.
Edwards received a call late October from her husband. He was frantically speaking. He was so clear that she understood her and she called Critter Care. She then received the shocking news.
“They told me someone had found Rocky. I was in disbelief,” Edwards said. “I asked them if they could double-check the chip because I didn’t want to break my daughter’s heart again. … When I got there, I waited outside and saw this lady with a little shaggy dog, and I instantly knew it was Rocky. Rocky was my pet. I was pleasantly surprised by her friendliness and willingness to be petted. However, she was quite matted. By this time, my husband had already notified my daughter, so she rushed to the clinic as well.”
Edwards claimed that they checked it multiple times to ensure it was Rocky. This may have been excessive, but Edwards wanted to be sure she wasn’t going to “take someone else’s pet.” She said that she and the Good Samaritan went into the clinic to have Rocky scanned again. Leyendecker said that after the third scanning and the fact that Rocky looked a lot like the dog in the family’s pictures, it was confirmed that it was their dog that the Good Samaritan had found.
“She actually has pictures of it,” Leyendecker said. “She had a picture with the dog and a little girl holding the dog — probably we are talking about an elementary age child, this was from 2013. She had brought during that time the dog for several sets of shots and got the puppy microchipped and registered it with the city, and so we have had proof that the dog belonged to her.”
Leyendecker said the dog did not seem to recognize the owner when they met — this is common, due to the length of time that had passed. She said that the dog seemed to be comfortable with its owner.
Whatever the cause, the discovery was made at a difficult time for the family and required a victory. Their grandfather had died four days prior, and their dog Bob had just passed unexpectedly.
Edwards stated that it was too much emotion to understand in one day or even a week.
(Image to represent microchipping for dogs
As soon as Rocky’s identification was established, the procedure to take care of her began. After Rocky was examined and given his shots, they were reunited.
According to Edwards, Kayla and Rocky have been together since then. Rocky follows her everywhere she goes and won’t leave her side. Kayla also takes Rocky to the local dog parks so that they can interact with other animals.
“Having Rocky back home with us has been amazing,” Edwards said. “It’s like if she had never left. She was a great addition to our family of cats and dogs. I know people are hesitant about microchipping their pets, but this was probably one of the best decisions we ever made.”
Rocky’s initial fate is unknown, but Leyendecker cautions that microchipping is essential since animals can get misplaced or even stolen. She stated that people who want to make quick cash often remove pets from their homes and sell them.
Source: LMT Online
