Sheeba, a German Shepherd

Midland OSPCA helps reunite dog with family
July 16, 2009

A family has been reunited with their lost pooch thanks to the help of the Midland branch of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA).

Sheeba, a three-year-old German shepherd, went missing more than two months ago near Sundridge, but is now back home after being found at the Midland branch of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Sheeba, a three-year-old German shepherd, went missing near Sundridge – south of North Bay – more than two months ago.


Picked up as a stray in Parry Sound, and unclaimed after several days, the dog was brought to the OSPCA’s Orillia branch on May 5. A few weeks later, the dog – dubbed Luna by OSPCA staff – was transferred to the Midland branch, where she was put up for adoption.


On June 22, acting Muskoka branch manager Judith Aubin received an e-mail reporting a dog that had been lost near Sundridge almost two months prior. She created a lost report in the organization’s new provincewide database, called PetPoint.


The next day, while visiting the Midland branch, Aubin noticed a dog in the adoption centre that looked a lot like the lost German shepherd for which she had put out a report. Aubin and Midland branch manager Maureen Dool compared the file on the lost dog and the one in the shelter to see if there might be a match.


“We started doing a comparison – which is sometimes hard to do with a photograph – but when we called her name, her ears perked up,” said Dool, adding they called the family, who drove down the next day.


“It (was) a pretty big coincidence. They were very fortunate, but it goes to show this program we have is really helpful because we can send information like that out among ourselves quite easily,” said Dool, adding while they have had animals claimed before, there haven’t been many under circumstance like Sheeba’s.


“It’s pretty amazing … that a dog that’s been in the system for so long actually got claimed by her proper family. We’re happy.”


Dool said both the family and the dog were very grateful to be reunited.

“They were surprised because they’ve been looking and looking for her,” she said. “It’s just coincidence that someone suggested they search further. The family is obviously very happy and thankful, and the dog is happy to be home.”


Sheeba was outfitted with a new 24PetWatch microchip before being sent home, where owner Michelle Brandt said she was happy to see the old couch on which she likes to sleep.


Source: http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Missing-dogs-reunited-with-owner/Nyf9W3SgSki6q7iWqwh0Ew.cspx

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