Texas Family Dog Found in Florida 6 Years After Going Missing Thanks to Microchip

Texas Family Dog Found in Florida 6 Years After Going Missing Thanks to Microchip
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Broward County)
Epoch Inspired Staff
11/12/2020
Updated:
11/12/2020

A family in San Antonio, Texas, were finally reunited with their long-lost dog last month—an incredible six years after it went missing from their home.

King, a 15-year-old chihuahua, actually turned up in Florida but was identified and reunited with his loving owners all thanks to a microchip.

The beloved family pet went missing from the backyard of Debi Vazquez and her daughter DaNae’s Texas home in 2014, reported WSVN 7 News.
(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/browardhumane">Humane Society of Broward County</a>)
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Broward County)

DaNae recalled the night: “It was raining. So, I just bought him a new collar, so I didn’t put the collar on because I didn’t want him to get dirty, and then when the other two dogs came in, he wasn’t with them, and we just haven’t seen him since.”

Both mother and daughter were heartbroken and spent many months trying to find King. They posted his picture on social media and even offered a reward, but he had simply disappeared.

“It turns into a year, turns into two years, but we always had his picture on the phone,” said Debi.

On Debi’s birthday however, they received the call that they had been hoping for all that time.

(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/browardhumane">Humane Society of Broward County</a>)
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Broward County)

Over 1,000 miles away in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, staff at Humane Society of Broward County, a local animal shelter, said a woman had surrendered King to them. They said she couldn’t take care of him, having kept him for the last six months.

The staff checked King for a microchip, and it didn’t take long to identify the owner, locate them, and call the Vazquezes.

“They said ‘King,’ and I was like ‘What!? King in Fort Lauderdale!?’ He’s having a life, you know,” Debi said.

With no available flights until later in the week, the mother-daughter duo didn’t waste any time. Instead of waiting, they drove almost 20 hours to reunite with their lost King.

“I’m not gonna wait that long!” Debi said.

How King ended up in south Florida and what he’s seen over the last six years remains unknown. Now that he’s heading home though, he’s in for some special treatment.

(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/browardhumane">Humane Society of Broward County</a>)
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Broward County)

“He looks very sad, very skinny to me, but so happy to have him back in our family where he belongs,” Debi said.

The Humane Society said that King’s story is an important reminder about microchipping your pets.

“Microchip your dog!” DaNae told WSVN.

The Vazquezes were certainly happy that King had been chipped; without it, he would never have made it home.

“So happy to have him back in our family where he belongs,” said Debi while holding King. And referring to the mother, she added, “And she just put her dog down on the 18th,” reported 4 CBS Miami.

“We are thinking maybe the dog that passed away brought him to us,” said Debi.

(Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/browardhumane">Humane Society of Broward County</a>)
(Courtesy of Humane Society of Broward County)
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