All of my dogs are Avid microchipped.  I also Avid microchip all puppies I breed at their seven/eight week evaluation.  It has been my routine from the beginning.   If I, or my family, acquire a new dog, it is Avid microchipped as well, including my son's greyhound mix.  It is my personal "insurance" that if they get lost, or god-forbid, stolen, they have a "dime" to call home.  Then I pray that I never have to use the chip, but if I do that the pieces fall into place and whoever finds my dog, scans for the microchip. 

 

This routine has paid off in a big way!  In February of 2008 I had a 5 month old puppy stolen from a dog show.  A family had come to see the puppy I had available and taken her for a walk on the site, with permission.  However, they left with the puppy and were never heard from again.   Unfortunately I could not locate them...their phone numbers had been changed and information had no new listings for them, the woman had left her place of employment and after tracking her to another employer, she quit and I lost her again.   The family was last known to live in the central part of Mississippi.

 

On May 4, 2009, I received a phone call from Huntsville, Alabama.  They had just picked up a "stray" and its microchip was registered to me, could I please call them.  I spoke with Joleen at HAS and discovered the chip came back to my stolen puppy, Sera.  It turned out she and two other Aussies, with MS tags, were running along a highway.  A motorist stopped and tried to catch them as she was afraid they would be hit by a car.  Huntsville Animal Services was called and the dogs picked up.  Upon arriving at the shelter, the dogs were scanned for microchips as part of their intake procedure.   Avid was contacted when Sera's number came up and Avid gave Huntsville the info they needed to contact me.

 

Arrangements were made for my close friend, Pam Stephenson, to pick up Sera for me and bring her home at the end of the month.   I stayed in touch with Huntsville Animal Service employees, who were extremely kind and helpful in reuniting Sera with me.   I am just so very grateful that their procedure of scanning for microchips, and my routine of chipping everyone, and Avid's excellent program, led to exactly what we prayed for.....a lost or stolen dog returning home.

 

My heartfelt thanks go out to Mike Fritz, Todd Osborne, Joleen, and Kristi for taking care of Sera and putting up with a very worried "Mom" while all this was settled.  Their dedication and service to the animals in their care speaks volumes to the Angels they are.   Without them, there would not have been a happy ending. 

 

Sera is half starved, only about 20 pounds or so and quite scared, but settling in at Pam's for now.   She loves her boys and her Hubby, Gary, and is eating well, so beginning to add some weight.   I look forward to seeing her in a couple of weeks.