Safe at home

She said, "“To this day, I don’t know how he got out.” That's Patricia Orozco, from Sacramento, who was torn to pieces for five years after her rescue dog Choco got out one day. Anyone who ever shared a love with a furry (or feathered, or finny, or whatever) friend would know how that felt.

“I still talked about him all the time,” she said. “I wondered what he’s doing; I wondered how he is … When you have a pet disappear, everything races through your mind. … Is he alive? Is he okay? Is he being treated well?”

It was unbearable, I know. One of our cats went missing for a few hours one day and we about went crazy. And when she turned up, we felt a joy like few others. We won't say what happened to Eddie that day, but we are now very sure about keeping the kitchen cabinets closed.

 But back to our story...along came a text from a microchip company, telling Ms Orozco that Choco had turned up... 2,300 miles away in Lincoln, Michigan.

The wirehaired-Dachshund mix was found tied to a fence at the Lincoln Park Animal Shelter in late November. A few phone calls and, and Orozco was able to go get her pooch! 

This is a perfect demonstration of the value of microchipping a pet. You put air tags on the luggage; this is the same thing!

Except for this - Ms Orozco was thinking that the call came from a shelter in Lincoln, California, 30 miles from home. No. 

The story gets complicated from here, but let me just tell you, Orozco went on Facebook and asked for help, and the next thing you know, a member of the Helping Paws and Claws nonprofit in Loomis, California saw her post, and she knew someone who was willing to coordinate the trip. Community members paid for the person's airfare, and quick as a wink, Choco was home, thanks to some kind, loving, lovely people.

There are such things! You just have to look for them.

Home again!