May 19, 2011
A dog found running loose in central San Diego over the weekend was returned home to Chula Vista–after disappearing more than five years ago!
Credit a microchip for the unlikely homecoming.
On Saturday, May 14, a Good Samaritan found the female Chihuahua loose on C Street in Golden Hill. A County animal control officer picked up the dog. As part of normal procedure, the dog was scanned for a microchip, and one was detected. Staff contacted the microchip company for the owner’s information.
Shelter staff placed a call informing the incredulous owner the dog had been found. “Cookie,” it turned out, had vanished from Alejandro Pantoja’s home in Chula Vista five years ago. Exactly how the dog ended up in San Diego is unknown, but someone probably brought her there from the South Bay.
Cookie’s happy ending shows the importance of getting pets microchipped.
“Having your animal microchipped is a painless procedure that truly does ensure your pet has a ticket home,” said Dawn Danielson, Director of the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services.
County Animal Services strongly encourages all pet owners to have their animals microchipped as a form of positive identification and to register the microchip with the company and the animal shelter.
Microchips are available at all three County animal shelters every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m.
Dogs must have a current license or the owner must purchase one at the time in order to obtain the microchip. For more information regarding microchips, visit Animal Service’s website.
      
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