Emile, black labrador

Microchipped dog returned after 894-mile trip
January 31, 2013

After an 894 mile round trip, a lost dog that crossed international borders was reunited with his owner in France, thanks to his microchip and the help of Petlog, the UK’s largest lost and found database, and a truck driver from Italy.

Emile, a twelve year old black Labrador, originally from Ince Blundell near Liverpool, was found on a busy motorway in France, more than 30 miles away from where he went missing.

However, thanks to a committed Italian he travelled international borders and almost 900 miles before he was reunited with his owner, Matthew Hayes. With help from his microchip, Petlog and the European Pet Network, Emile is now safely back with Matthew and lavishing the attention. Petlog is the sponsor of National Microchipping Month 2013 which runs throughout June.

Matthew, who was left paralysed from the waist down following a serious accident several years ago, has always had Emile at his side standing by him and so when he disappeared, Matthew was inconsolable. He explained: “Emile went missing before Christmas. It was initially thought that he may have had a heart attack or something and the idea of him dying in the cold nearby was terrible. He has a son Duplo, whom I also treasure, but my bond with Emile is second to none. Devastated doesn’t come close to the feeling I felt before Christmas; but personally, I was convinced he was still alive.”

My bond with Emile is second to none. Devastated doesn’t come close to the feeling I felt before Christmas; but personally, I was convinced he was still alive

Emile was found by an Italian truck driver on the busy A5 Autoroute, shortly before Christmas. She immediately took responsibility in helping Emile, fearing he would get hit or cause an accident. Unfortunately, due to work commitments, the lady did not have time to take Emile to a vet in France and instead took him back with her to Italy where she sought help.

It was at a vet surgery in Verona, that Emile’s microchip was identified but it could not be traced on a French database. Without the care and determination of the Italian lady and the vet, the story would have ended there and Emile would have been rehomed, but the lady was committed and she discovered that Emile was originally registered on the UK’s Petlog database, before moving to a French database when his owners relocated. As Petlog is listed on the Europetnet (EPN) database, she could contact the database to see if it still had Emile’s records. Petlog immediately responded, as they had Matthew’s French address, but no telephone number or email, and so wrote to him immediately with the good news.

Matthew continued: “I have rarely received such joyous news as the letter from Petlog received on 11th January. Miracles do happen, and the microchip was obviously key. The Italians who looked after him and found all the information were really fantastic.”

Pets registered on the Petlog database can be identified throughout Europe, as it is part of the European Pet Network. Over 35 countries work together through the European Pet Network to ensure that pets registered on their database can be identified when found in another country. Petlog is the only database in the UK to be part of the European Pet Network.

Luckily, Emile was microchipped and registered with Petlog. Once the chip was identified in Italy, Petlog was contacted through the European Pet Network and processes were put in motion to reunite Emile in Verona, Italy with Matthew in Burgandy, France, an 894 mile round trip.

Celia Walsom, Executive at Petlog said: “We are delighted that we, at Petlog, are responsible for assisting in reuniting a dog in Italy with his owner in France. We are committed to helping reunite lost pets with their owners, in whatever way we can. As pet owners, we know there is nothing worse than when a pet goes missing which is why we do all we can to help in situations like this.

“Emile was picked up before Christmas and Petlog has been involved since 7th January in arranging for Emile to be reunited with Matthew. Reuniting a pet and its owner across international borders is not an easy task, and without a microchip and the European Pet Network it would be near impossible, but we are delighted we could help in this case.”

Source: http://www.mypetonline.co.uk/news-and-features/features/microchipped-dog-returned-after-894-mile-trip