Roxanne, American Staffordshire Terrier

I'm certain that this story is an old story. But there must still be some dogs around that have tattoos. (My dog still has his, though by now it looks like a barcode after ten years.) They were the only form of permanent identification for a pet before microchipping. This story also involves a research lab; research labs legally purchase animals from animal control facilities that legally sell them in lieu of euthanizing them. This is yet another reason why it's so important to microchip companion animals, keep the registry up to date, and periodically have your microchipped pet scanned to ensure that the chip is still where is was injected (they can migrate, making it important that an animal's full body is scanned if the chip is not found in the neck area).


RESEARCH DOG SAVED BY TATTOO

Unconscious, just moments from the beginning incision, an eight-month old American Staffordshire Terrier lay on the operating table of a mid-western research laboratory. As the researcher shaved the dog’s abdomen (preparing it for surgery from which it would never awaken), tattooed numbers were uncovered on the skin of the dog’s inner thigh! The surgery was instantly aborted.

The doctor performing the research went right to the phone and called a toll-free number he had used several times before. Within minutes, a comprehensive nationwide search began for the owner of the tattooed pet. The number the researcher called was a 24-hour pet identification hotline operated by the National Dog Registry, the oldest and largest missing pet recovery system in the world, which is headquartered in Mesa, AZ.

When the operator at NDR ran a database search for the pet’s ID number with no successful match, she began the arduous task of networking with all other cooperating organizations that might have records on the number. The operator knew that without a registration in a national database (such as NDR’s), the tattoo was virtually worthless as an identification and recovery tool, and the dog on the table at the research laboratory would surely die.

NDR’s operator persisted in her efforts. One of the calls she placed was to the Breeder’s Action Board (BAB) in Michigan, a group that regularly works with NDR. (BAB is a non-profit organization promoting responsible dog ownership and public education.) Believing that the tattoo number might be part of their state pet ID system, BAB’s Betty Melia called the Michigan Department of Agriculture. The Department had the number on file, but had no current information on the owner. Persevering, Betty called the veterinarian listed as the dog’s tattooer and uncovered more recent information.

When she contacted Miron Duncan of Detroit, his shock and amazement confirmed that Roxanne, his AmStaff, had disappeared from his back yard three months earlier. Although he had searched the neighborhood and put up signs, Miron despaired of ever seeing Roxanne again. He almost could not believe that she had been found in a research lab hundreds of miles away, in another state.

BAB called NDR with Miron’s name and phone number. NDR notified the doctor at the research lab that the owner had been located. Roxanne was saved! "The research staff was overjoyed to hear from us," said Bette Rapoport, President of the National Dog Registry. "They said, ‘Don’t worry--Roxanne will be well taken care of until you come for her.’"

NDR called Carolyn Brown in Illinois, a pet tattooer who is part of our extensive international network of Authorized Agents. Carolyn agreed to take time off from work, travel to the laboratory to retrieve Roxanne, purchase a shipping crate, and place her safely on a plane home to Detroit.

Even though they had purchased Roxanne legitimately from a USDA-licensed animal dealer, the research lab requested that their name be kept anonymous. The lab contacted the dealer and was told that the dog had been purchased from a Detroit pound three months earlier. NDR’s follow-up investigation showed this to be true.

"Were it not for the absolute cooperation between NDR and BAB, no one would have ever known Roxanne’s fate," said Ms. Rapoport. "The research lab was kind enough to provide her with rabies shots, medications, and health exams, in addition to the necessary certificates to allow her to travel by plane."

On June 29th, near midnight, Roxanne was reunited with her delighted owner in Detroit. NDR continually explores ways to convince pounds that a tattoo search is absolutely necessary on every animal picked up. The one minute required to check for a tattoo can save many pets’ lives.

NDR’s non-profit Rescue Fund paid all the expenses for Roxanne’s return home, since the owner was unemployed and did not have the funds available to claim his pet.

NOTE: Special NDR awards of thanks were presented to Carolyn Brown in recognition of her outstanding help and professionalism and to the research facility staff for their extraordinary efforts and assistance in saving Roxanne’s life.

Source: http://www.nationaldogregistry.com/happy.html

Rocco, schnauzer

Family reunited with missing dog
Schnauzer is one of two being sold at Jackson Heights
By Mark Bell
August 28, 2009

The Brown family of Murfreesboro was ecstatic Friday to be reunited with one of their two missing miniature schnauzers, believed stolen from a Snyder Court home they were visiting Wednesday.

After an article concerning the missing dogs, Rocco and Jemma, ran on The Daily News Journal’s Web site Thursday and in the print edition Friday, Carrie Brown said she received a call from Frank Burks, of Rutherford County.

“He called me at 10:30 p.m. last night (Thursday) ... I had already gone to sleep because I was really stressed out about the dogs and had a headache,” Brown said. “He said he had some good news for me.”

Burks proceeded to tell Carrie that he had bought a miniature schnauzer from a woman at Jackson Heights Plaza on Wednesday.

“It didn’t strike me as odd when I bought the dogs, but the woman had two of them and both didn’t have collars on them,” said Burks, who had bought the dog for his daughter. “The woman said she had bought expensive collars with rhinestones for the dogs and she said they were going to keep those collars as a reminder of the dogs.

“She said (she) had to get rid of (her) pets for financial reasons. She said she hated to do so.”

It wasn’t until Burks read The DNJ Web site Thursday that he realized something was amiss.

In Thursday’s story, Carrie explained both of the family’s dogs were inside a fence at the home on Snyder Court Tuesday evening. When she went back to check on the dogs Wednesday they were missing and both of the dog’s collars were lying on the ground outside the fence.

The “light bulb kind of went off in my head” and that’s when Burks knew something wasn’t right, he told Carrie.

Burks called the newly-bought schnauzer Rocco. Rocco responded with a bark and tail wag.

That’s when Burks knew he was dealing with one of the Browns’s missing dogs.

Burks said the woman who had Rocco and Jemma didn’t tell him her name.

“She was about 5-feet tall with shoulder-length, curly-brown hair and a slender build,” Burks said. He gave her $175 for the dog.

The Browns gave Burks $75 as consolation for returning Rocco, and Burks plans to file his own separate police report at MPD for fraud.

“I’m so thankful for what the gentleman did,” Brown said. “He is a good Samaritan. I wish we could afford to give him more.”

Even though Carrie and the rest of the Brown family are delighted to have Rocco back, they still worry about the safety and welfare of Jemma, who has been known to have seizures.

“We still want our other baby back, too,” Carrie said. “We’re almost a complete family again. Things just won’t be the same without sweet little Jemma at home, too.”

Carrie filed a report with the Murfreesboro Police Department concerning the missing dogs Friday and hopes police will aid in the effort to find Jemma and her alleged dognapper or dognappers.

Police are attempting to pull video footage from the area where Burks bought Rocco from the unknown seller. The Browns said they hope police can get a photo of the seller or the seller’s vehicle and license plate.

Source: http://www.dnj.com/article/20090828/NEWS01/90828019
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Holly, terrier/poodle mix

Holly The Prodigal Pooch Is Reunited With Her Owner
John Kelly, Dublin
UK, Monday April 07, 2008

Holly the missing dog has been reunited with her overjoyed owner after nine long months apart.

Holly and Laura are reunited

Laura Cleary's beloved pet was stolen from her house in Dublin in April. But she never gave uphope she would see the six-year-old terrier-poodle cross again, despite fearing she had been stolen by a gang.

Then Battersea Dogs Home got in touch to say they had found the dog - 279 miles from Dublin in Harrow, west London. As Laura waited for her long-lost dog to be brought to her, she admitted to being slightly nervous.

"I was kind of prepared for her not to remember me because she's seen so many people over the last nine months," she said.

"That's why I brought her favourite toy and blanket with me, because she responds to them, but she was just fine.

"When she comes home now it'll all come back to her. She was a bit stunned by the cameras I think.

"I can't believe this is really happening and I'm just so happy."

When dog and owner were finally reunited, at Battersea's unit in Windsor, there was no need for props - both were evidently happy to see each other.

"She looks great, I've missed her so much and I'm so excited," said Ms Cleary.

"All my family and friends are at home and we're going to have a small party tonight and lots of fun tomorrow with her."

And there could be romance in the air for Holly, because Laura rescued a Yorkshire terrier named Harry while Holly was missing.

"Holly's getting a boyfriend!" said Ms Cleary.

"Harry can be a bit jealous of other people getting attention from me, but I'm sure it'll be fine.

"Battersea gave me tips about settling them down together and I'd like to thank them for reuniting us."

Ms Cleary also has some sensible advice for other dog owners who find themselves in the same situation.

"If you had the dog chipped notify the company and put up flyers, try to get some publicity and never give up hope," she said.

Source:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Holly-The-Prodigal-Pooch-Is-Reunited-With-Her-Owner/Article/20080121300286?lpos=Home_Article_Related_Content_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_1300286_Holly_The_Prodigal_Pooch_Is_Reunited_With_Her_Owner

Video:
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/UK-News/Adventurous-Lost-Dog-Found-Abroad/Video/200801214183442?lpos=UK_News_Article_Related_Content_Region_2&lid=VIDEO_14183442_Adventurous_Lost_Dog_Found_Abroad

Maddie, white dog

This guy even got his business clients to help him search for his lost dog? That's it, the next time someone tells me there's no one that can help them search for their lost dog, I'm pointing them to this article!

Jacksonville man finds dog missing since burglary
Owner got call late last night that Maddie was in the woods
By Jim Schoettler Story updated at 7:14 AM on Friday, Aug. 7, 2009

Kirk Chamberlain’s faith has been rewarded.

The Jacksonville man and his dog, Maddie, were reunited about midnight Thursday after a woman’s call led him to thick woods less than a mile from his Lake Shore home. The 4-year-old white dog vanished Saturday after a burglar broke through Chamberlain’s front door on Park Street.

Chamberlain found her at the Oak Tree Apartments on Lake Shore Boulevard. The caller, a resident of the complex, got his name from a flier he posted and called after she saw the dog.

Chamberlain used a high-beam light to scour the woods for about 30 minutes before finding his dog. Maddie hesitated to come to him at first, but they soon had a heartfelt reunion.

“I put her on my shoulder and just held her,” said Chamberlain.

Chamberlain, 58, said the dog had a sore on one leg and was a little shaken and dirty. After a full meal, she fell asleep in his bed, something he normally doesn’t allow.

“It’s wonderful,” Chamberlain said Thursday morning.

It’s unclear what exactly happened to Maddie. A flat-screen TV was the only other thing Chamberlain found missing after the burglary. He speculated that Maddie was stolen, but couldn’t be sure.

Chamberlain said his faith was restored in humanity after people came out from all over to help him find his dog, including old girlfriends, business clients and simple strangers. That faith kicked up a notch with a late-night phone call.

Source: http://jacksonville.com/lifestyles/pets/2009-08-07/story/jacksonville_man_finds_dog_missing_since_burglary