There’s nothing more distressing as a pet owner than thinking you’ve lost your furry friend forever. No matter how much care you might take to secure your home, cats and dogs can find clever ways to escape without even meaning to.
Luckily, with a bit of helpful human intervention, hope is not always lost for families whose pets go missing. But sometimes it can take several months for a reunion, as is the case in this particular story.
On July 4th in Frisco, Texas, Dora the dog jumped the fence in her back yard after being scared by the fireworks. Her family desperately searched for her, leaving no stone unturned in their quest to find out where she was. But as the weeks passed, it seemed less and less likely that Dora and her worried owners would ever be united again.
Still, Dora’s family didn’t give in. And then, 7 months later, Collin County Animals Services in Mckinney, Texas, scanned Dora’s microchip after finding her on the streets. She was just over 10 miles away from her home. They called Dora’s family to let them know that they’d found their girl.
When Dora’s dad came to collect her at the center, he seemed almost nervous as he stood waiting to see her again.
Perhaps he wondered whether Dora would recognize him – but he needn’t have worried. As soon as Dora sniffed his hand, she curled up at his side and gazed into his eyes. She clearly knew exactly who she was.
It’s an incredibly heartwarming moment. Dad pets Dora and puts his head close to hers. It’s almost as if he’s trying to communicate to her that he’ll never let her go again.
Dora, for her part, looks as if dad is completely forgiven for leaving her out in the backyard during the fireworks. She places a paw on his leg and lays her head in the palm of his hand.
According to CCASA, between 5 and 7 million companion animals enter shelters each year, and only 15 to 20% of stray dogs are ever found by their owners. These statistics show just how lucky Dora’s dad was to find her again.
Dora’s microchip helped her to be found by the right people and reunited with those who loved her. Microchipping your pet helps you to prepare for the unknown future. If your furry friend ever becomes lost, or is stolen, they have the best chance of being identified.
Undoubtedly, Dora’s dad would have felt incredibly thankful to have had Dora microchipped before she went missing. Dora looks as if she almost can’t believe it when dad puts her on a lead and takes her out of the building. Perhaps she had given up hope. But her family hadn’t.
The story of Dora’s escape has an important message: don’t leave your dogs outside if there’s even a chance your neighbors might be letting off fireworks. Perhaps Dora’s family had simply let her out for a quick run around the yard, thinking that they’d miss the fireworks while she was out.
Dogs perceive fireworks as a threat, due to their noise and unpredictability. It’s likely that Dora went into panic mode and tried to escape the noise. Luckily for her family, that night on the 4th July wouldn’t be the last time they ever saw her.
The heartwarming reunion between Dora and her dad is in the video below.
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