Posted on 12/17/2006 9:50:22 AM PST by LdSentinal
TAMPA, Fla. -- A golden retriever missing from his family since a 2004 hurricane destroyed a backyard fence resurfaced this week near Chicago.
The five-member Baines family of South Tampa had finally given up the search this summer. They thought their pet was deceased.
No one knows how the dog, "Sam-I-Am," traveled the hundreds of miles and turned up as a stray at a shelter in McHenry County, Ill., this week. Shelter workers said they don't think he walked because there was no damage to his paws.
"He has wanderlust," Debra Quackenbush, spokeswoman for the McHenry County Health Department, told the St. Petersburg Times. "We've never seen a story like this. It was just meant to be."
Someone found Sam, now 5 years old, wandering around Woodstock, Ill., Quackenbush said. The rescuer kept Sam for five days. No one claimed him, and he was taken to the county's shelter.
When Sam was younger, a microchip was inserted between his shoulder blades. The chip, which costs $30 to $40 to insert, allows shelters and medical workers to scan and identify pets.
Because of the chip, the family knew it had the right dog.
On Thursday, Alice Baines, who works for a marketing company, took the day off and flew to Chicago to bring Sam home.
When they were reunited, Sam stepped on her feet and then sat on them, just like always, and still answered to Sam, Baines said.
After a few delays, Baines and Sam arrived home in Tampa
"He's home, that's all that matters," she said. "I think he's happy. He's not hurting for a meal. Whoever took good care of him: Thank you."
what an awesome ending to a heartbreaking story!
Has anyone heard any stories about these microchips being recalled, and places like Petsmart not selling them? I'm wondering because here's an example of one that was clearly implanted before 2004 and working just fine.
Petsmart just put two different chips in my cat a couple months ago.
I think I was fed false info.
What a great story! Thank you for sharing!
lets see if Sam can sit and STAY now!
Looking around on the web, I found this story about Banfield (Petsmart's Vet):
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/microchp.html#ind
Last month, they put both a 125 KHz and a 134.2 KHz chip into my cat. The paperwork that came with it said the 134.2 cannot be read by most shelters yet. I guess that Congress must've allowed it.
I think that would be the last cross-country trip I would make for him, but it is great to know that all is okay with Sam!
Doggi ping !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.