On April 15, 2014, the Hight family from Crestview, Fla., received a call from Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) they never expected. Their now 11-years-old Lhasa Apso dog named Maggie had been found, after the pet had been missing for nine years.
The canine and another stray dog were found by animal control officers in Holt, Fla. Both were taken in and scanned, but Maggie was the only one with an active microchip.
A message was left for the Hights and the family thought it was just a mistake.
“I called thinking that it’s a German shepherd or something like that,” April Hight told The Gainsville Sun. But the found dog was Maggie, the Hights’ small, gentle dog who had broken out of their yard nine years ago.
The long lost pet received a veterinarian checkup and no major health issues were found, the dog’s fur however was very matter, she was underweight, and her body was covered with feces and dirt.
“It’s just a gift to have her back,” Hight said. “She’ll be able to live out the rest of her years loved and cared for and hopefully that’ll make up for the hopefully not all horrible years she had to live through to get back home.”
At the reunion, it seemed Maggie did not recognize her previous owner, April Hight, yet when the dog saw Hight’s husband, she immediately made a connection and her tailed wagged enthusiastically.
Thanks to a microchip Maggie is back home. The rest of her life will be filled with love, care and comforts.
