Dog News

Microchip Reunites Dog & Owner After 2 Years and 1000 Miles

by Adrea

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Debi Pentrank of Ocala, Fla. reunites with her dog, Zeus. The two have been separated for nearly two years. Constance York -- For The Press & Guide
Debi Pentrank of Ocala, Fla. reunites with her dog, Zeus. The two have been separated for nearly two years. (Photo: Constance York/The Press & Guide)

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Sometimes the obvious becomes overlooked when the normal way of doing things, right or wrong, has never been an issue.  Until it is.

Zeus, Debi Petranck’s black and white pug-nosed terrier, would occasionally go out for a wander.  He loved to go to McDonald’s and Burger King, having a fondness for chicken sandwiches. It was never a problem, he always came home.  However, one day Zeus slipped out behind Petranck without realizing it.  That date, Thursday, August 21, 2014, was to be forever embedded in Petranck’s mind…the day Zeus didn’t come back. Instantly she regretted ever letting him go anywhere without her.  She knew allowing that behavior was a bad decision, it just was never a problem.  A lesson learned, but she feared it was too late.  The good news, Zeus was microchipped.

Petranck put flyers up all over the area and ran a daily ad in the paper.  It was the same thing she had done when she had found Zeus as a stray, only this time, instead of the flyers and ad saying “found dog,” it read “missing dog.”  She was heartbroken, but never gave up her faith he would be found.

Some kids, seeing the dog, offered Zeus up to a stranger in the Burger King parking lot.  The man, thinking the dog looked nice, took the dog, then wound up moving from Florida to Michigan.

When was Zeus was picked up from the street and taken to the Dearborn Animal Shelter, his microchip found.  The man who had Zeus for the interim two years came looking for the dog and was told by shelter employees that his microchip indicated a different owner.  The man understood and Petranck received the surprising call that Zeus had been found.   Immediately, she made the trek to pick him up.  In her enthusiasm and haste to get to Zeus, her trip wound up including two traffic tickets.

In a Press & Guide  story, Petranck had concerns at seeing Zeus again. “He may not even remember me,” she shared through teary eyes, but that thought was quickly cast aside when Zeus ran into the room, jumping into her arms, licked her face, and wagged his tail with joy.  There was no question to anyone viewing that Zeus knew exactly who she was.

We all make mistakes and it is always easy to stand back and criticize when someone has made an error, particularly if it seems like common sense, but there is a lesson to be learned from this for all of us. Petranck will always regret her actions, however, had she not had him microchipped, they may have never been reunited, especially with such a great distance separating them.  For those adopting, shelters will microchip animals and many offer an owner with vouchers for cost savings on the procedure.  “We just got to educate people to check for the microchips,” Petranck said before leaving for the return trip home.

Bottom line, things happen.  Be thoughtful and be prepared so your story does not follow the same suit as Petranck.  She and Zeus were very lucky.  Remember,  our pets depend on us.