A Year Apart: How a Microchip Finally Brought Snowy Home
Snowy and Linda had a sweet reunion. photo: EBSPCA
As animal lovers, it’s heart-wrenching to imagine your furry family member going missing, especially after taking all the recommended precautions to ensure their safety.
Linda’s dog, Snowy, had a microchip, but the curious canine ran into some tough luck. After she escaped from her fenced yard more than once, someone decided to keep the gorgeous, white Golden Retriever. As part of a breed known for their friendly nature, Snowy may have wondered what was happening, but she likely took it all in stride.
Yet perhaps it was a determination to return home that inspired Snowy to take one more chance at escape. Thankfully, that adventurous spirit led the dog straight to our doorstep at the East Bay SPCA.
When an animal arrives at the East Bay SPCA campus, our intake process ensures their well-being and increases the chances of a successful reunion. First, we check for a microchip. In Snowy’s case, we discovered that her owner, Linda, had microchipped Snowy, making a reunion possible. We also conduct both behavioral and medical evaluations. Medically, Snowy was in good health, but to ensure her continued well-being and the safety of all animals in our care, we administered all necessary vaccines.
Connecting with Linda led us to a surprising discovery: Snowy had been missing for an entire year! Whoever had kept her during that time never had her scanned so Linda’s efforts to find her were in vain. Linda also told us that she had recently moved and now had a fantastic, fully enclosed backyard to prevent future escapes.
Calm but eager, Linda waited as we brought Snowy out. The reunion was a joyful moment for both as they greeted each other with big hugs and a wagging tail. Linda then shared that her two daughters were waiting at home, unaware that they were about to welcome their sweet pooch back. We could only imagine the ecstatic reunion when this beloved nine-year-old dog finally walked in the door.
Before they left, we offered Snowy a toy. Without hesitation, she happily selected a large squeaky whale from our collection, clearly ready to take it and head home.
This heartwarming reunion was made possible by a simple microchip. Even when we do our best to care for our animals, life can be unpredictable. Should your dog or cat ever get lost, an up-to-date microchip will ensure you can be reached when they’re found, even if it takes a year as it did in Snowy’s case.
Unfortunately, we see animals with unregistered microchips every day. Whether you’ve moved recently, gotten a new phone number, or just want to double-check your dog’s ID status, it’s always a good idea to update your pet’s microchip registration with a secure registry (East Bay SPCA recommends 24PetWatch or Fi Nano). If you don’t know your pet’s registration number or whether they’ve been chipped, take a trip to your vet for a quick microchip scan. And if you find a stray animal, no matter how gorgeous, please take them for a microchip scan right away so they can be returned to their family if possible.
Even though it took a year, this tiny yet powerful tool ensured Snowy was identified as a beloved pet and expedited her reunion. While all animals in our care receive the same high level of attention and compassion, reuniting pets with their rightful families is one of the most rewarding parts of our work. We’re thrilled that Snowy’s journey brought her to us, so she could, at last, go home.