In July 2010, Canine Coaching Services was involved in the reunion of a 20 year old missing dog with her worried owners. We were contacted when the Ard family thought they recognized a picture or their missing dog, Katie, on a local animal rescue website. CCS Owner, Valerie Broadway, often volunteers for CARE and was able to determine who was fostering the dog on the website. A meeting was arranged for the next morning at the Canine Coaching Services facility. Valerie took pictures of the reunion and submitted an article (see below), which was published in several local newspapers. An area tv news station also picked up the story and ran a segment on the evening news.
Katie’s Miracle Journey
Pittsboro, NC: Chatham Animal Rescue and Education (CARE) in Chatham County recently experienced something that has never happened in its over 20 year history, and many feel is a miracle.
Katie, a Chihuahua/Feist mix, was reunited with her family after disappearing almost seven months ago. The fiancé of the family's son was looking to adopt a dog and was conducting a search onPetfinder.com when she ran across a picture of Katie posted by CARE under the name of Sasha. She had her fiancé take a look at the picture and called his mom to share his suspicions that this could be long lost Katie. Mom, Pam Ard, immediately contacted CARE.
Foster mom, Melissa, Katie, and her relieved owner,
Pam Ard. A joyous and tearful reunion for all.
Katie disappeared from the Ard family home on Christmas night 2009. The family searched for Katie around the many acres of farm and forest around their home to no avail. Due to Katie’s age they thought maybe she has wondered off to die. But the family was haunted by thoughts of what could have happened to Katie.
In early January, volunteer CARE foster caregiver, Melissa Taylor, was called by Chatham County Animal Shelter’s personnel. It was the last day the Shelter could hold an older Chihuahua mix that had been turned into them as a stray. They knew Melissa had a soft spot for fostering older dogs. Melissa picked up Katie from the shelter and has fostered her in her home ever since. Katie was examined by a vet and estimated to be about 9 years old. Additionally, she had an irregular heartbeat. Potential adopters were interested in Katie, but ultimately the people didn’t want to take on the commitment of adopting a dog with heath issues. Melissa and her family were prepared to keep Katie in the event she was never adopted.
After getting home from work and receiving Pam’s message, Melissa arranged to meet with the Ard family first thing the next morning. It was the moment of truth. Was Sasha indeed Katie? Katie didn’t offer a lot of emotion at the reunion, so there were a few minutes of comparing pictures the Ard’s brought, and scars and bumps on Katie. The family also had their Katie’s littermate, Missy, with them. It didn’t take long to determine that Sasha was indeed Katie. And the biggest shocker, Katie is 20 years old! The reunion was emotional to say the least - everyone was in tears. Pam called her son to let him know Katie was found. The family is thrilled to have Katie back and is extremely appreciative for all CARE and especially Melissa did for her. Pam says, “Melissa was truly Katie's Guardian Angel! I have no doubt that Divine Intervention brought Katie back home to us. Katie isn't our pet; she and Missy are our family. A lot of love and joy has been received from those two little four-legged blessings during their twenty years!”
Once they were back home, Katie immediately visited each of her favorite places to lay and then she and Missy snuggled up in the dog bed together and sniffed and licked each other. They were a little slow to recognize each other when first reunited, but it was all coming back now.
CARE had Katie micro chipped, as is routine with fosters. The Ard family plans to have all of their pets micro chipped and will no longer allow the dogs to go outside unattended.
Source: http://www.caninecoachingservices.com/Happenings.html
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