Posted on 01/12/2004 1:26:20 PM PST by Flyer
Thursday marked a happy homecoming for Domino, a Boston Terrier, that had been missing for more than three years before returning home. A Houston SPCA employee identified owner Susan Bailey, right, and veterinarian Dr. Sharon Moore, left, through a microchip in the dog's shoulder. (Staff photo by Russell Autrey)
Susan Bailey calls it a miracle. Her 12-year-old Boston Terrier "Domino" came home Wednesday after being missing for more than three years. "What a miracle to have him home," said a joyously crying Bailey.
Bailey received four phone calls from the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals saying: "We have your dog. We have your dog, We have your dog."
"It was a miracle because I thought he was dead by now," said Bailey.
She described Domino as a curious, cozy pet who attracted people and often sought adventure. He vanished from Bailey's back yard in 2000. The black and white four-legged family pet had escaped the back yard of the Bailey's Richmond home on several other occasions in the past. Once, Bailey said, she rescued him from an apartment complex near her home after he was kidnapped and held for ransom by a group of people.
"I had to threaten to call the police to get him back," said Bailey.
On another occasion, Bailey said, she received a call at work from the Lake Jackson Police Department after her dog turned up there. Someone had taken the petite dog nearly 40 miles from his home. After those two incidents, Dr. Sharon Moore of the Rose-Rich Animal Clinic in Richmond persuaded Bailey to have a microchip safely implanted into Domino's shoulder.
Moore said it was a simple procedure. "It's a needle shot, similar to a rabies shot," said Moore. "We shoot a microchip the size of the grain of rice into the shoulder of the animal."
Bailey was skeptical about the effectiveness of the microchip until this week when it brought her long-lost pet home. Domino disappeared about three years ago from the yard while Bailey was at work. "It was a really painful experience to lose a pet," said Bailey. "He was a part of the family."
She searched the area, checked the local animal control shelters and even put an advertisement in "The Herald-Coaster," looking for her friend, but she was unsuccessful. "I thought someone had stolen him," said Bailey. A day went by. A day became days, then weeks and months and years. In the meantime, Domino's companion, Fred, a Dachshund, had to be to euthanized because of illnesses and his advanced age. Bailey said she thought about getting another dog, but purchased an aquarium instead. "I got the fish because you don't have to run after them," said Bailey. "They don't run away." That's all Bailey could do until she received the calls from the SPCA.
She said when she finally heard the call, she quickly dressed and rushed to Houston without any makeup, anxious to make sure her pet was really back. She drove to SPCA's previous location where she learned the facility had moved to a new location. Moore said a SPCA employee told her a woman brought Domino in the facility and claimed she had the dog for about a week.
SPCA employees routinely scan dogs and located the microchip on Domino, which provided a registration number, similar to Social Security number. She said the employee then called an international registry and traced the number on the Dachshund back to Dr. Moore's office. When Moore looked at the animal, she noted he'd aged during his absence and he was going blind. Despite those two changes, he appeared to be in good health. "They were calling him "grandpa,'" said Moore. After an examination and a release from the clinic and Dr. Moore, Domino headed home.
"He knows he's home," said Bailey. "He ran around in circles four or five times where a tree use to be. He knows he's home." Bailey credits the microchip with the safe return of her pet. "It's because of the chip," said Bailey. "I owe it all to the chip. Any responsible person with a pet needs to get a chip implanted in their pet." She also praised the SPCA for scanning for a microchip.
Moore said the microchip is something every pet owner should provide for their pet. She said the microchips are important because every animal shelter, rescue organization and animal control center scans every cat and dog that comes through their facility for an implanted chip.
"They scan to see if there is a microchip so they are able to identify the animal's owner," explained Moore. That was the case in this instance.
Moore said the technology has improved quite a bit over the years. "There used to be two or three companies competing for business and they had different scanners," said Moore. "And then AVID made a universal scanner and they've cornered the market." Moore said AVID has centralized the system and made microchip identification international and identifying lost pets and animals easier than using tattoos and collar tags.
She said there are many happy stories of lost pets being found as far away as Colorado. In Domino's case, it was at least 50 miles and 3 years away, but it's "home sweet home" for one long-lost, but now found, Boston Terrier.
Argh! I think a lot of vets now include that fee with the chip.
OK, now that's weird.
Someday, I'll tell you about Lucky the Gypsy dog. Who, over two decades, had 7 or 8 homes in a one mile radius.
He probably likes a home base, but may be afflicted with the Gypsy Syndrome, too.
Good, you can ask for me, is there anything that can be done to help the dog's sight?
Those microchips aren't that expensive. After reading this story I may have the girls (cats) chipped.
I knew a Dalmatian that could spot an opening door in total darkness, from a quarter mile away. And would take advantage of it. She was always watching for a chance to get out.
Was thinking if it's going blind, it's great that he's home and was curious about treatment. Thought there might be eye drops or something to treat it, halt or reverse it. It's a handsome dog.
What does marijuana prevent or delay, glaucoma or cataracts?
She said the employee then called an international registry and traced the number on the Dachshund back to Dr. Moore's office. When Moore looked at the animal, she noted he'd aged during his absence and he was going blind. Despite those two changes, he appeared to be in good health.
If this is accurate, wouldn't the SPCA have noticed that the dog changed breeds?
It's an experimental surgery they are doing over at Texas A&M. Boston to Dachshund is not that difficult, but the Pomeranian to Rottweiler breed change surgery has it's problems.
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