Found 3,200 Kilometers Away After Four Years
Safely Returned Home Thanks to an Anonymous Citizen
A story has emerged of a pet dog that went missing four years ago and was found nearly 3,200 kilometers away from home, dramatically reuniting with its family. On December 17, Yonhap News TV, citing CBS, reported the story of 'Choco,' a dog who returned to its owner's arms after being missing for a staggering four years. Back in 2021, Choco disappeared from a family home in Antelope, Sacramento County, California. The family put up flyers and searched nearby animal shelters in hopes of finding Choco, but for a long time, they found no clues.
Choco's owner, Patricia, said, "Choco used to escape frequently, even when living with his previous owner," and added, "Five years after we brought him home, he finally ran away and never came back." Just as the family was about to give up hope of ever seeing Choco again, they received an unexpected call. It was news from an animal shelter in Lincoln Park, Michigan, saying they were caring for Choco. This was the first contact in four years since Choco went missing. Choco was found tied to a fence near Detroit, Michigan, more than 3,200 kilometers from home. Shelter staff scanned the microchip implanted in Choco's body, which allowed them to contact the owner. Patricia recalled, "At first, I couldn't believe it. I thought they were talking about Lincoln in California, but when they said Lincoln in Michigan, I was really shocked."
With the help of the animal rescue group Helping Paws and Claws, Choco was able to return home safely. After hearing about the story, an anonymous citizen donated their airline miles so Choco could travel by plane. On the 10th, Choco and the family were finally reunited.
Patricia emphasized, "You must have a microchip implanted in your pet. What happened to me can happen to anyone." However, it still remains unclear how Choco traveled from California to Michigan or where he stayed during those years.
A Microchip Is Essential for Verifying Pet Information
Cases like this, where a pet is found far from home after a long period, are reported from time to time in the United States. In 2017, a cat that went missing in Texas was found six years later at a shelter in Florida, and in 2022, a dog lost during a hurricane was reunited with its owner in another state after five years. The common factor in all these cases was that the pets were registered with microchips.
Pet microchips are small chips the size of a grain of rice that are implanted under the skin of a pet's neck, storing a unique identification number and owner information. While they do not provide real-time location tracking like GPS, veterinary clinics and animal shelters can use specialized scanners to read the chip and access the owner's information.
Pet microchips are small chips the size of a grain of rice that are implanted under the skin of a pet's neck, storing a unique identification number and owner information. Pixabay
In the United States and many other countries, registering microchips is strongly encouraged for the quick identification of lost or stray animals, and in some regions, it is mandatory. Especially in cases of natural disasters or long-distance travel, if a pet goes missing, the microchip often becomes the only clue that can reconnect them with their owner.
In South Korea, the Animal Protection Act requires pet dogs to be registered, and microchip implantation is the most commonly used method. Experts advise, "If your address or contact information changes after registration, you must update the information to ensure effectiveness in real-life situations," and recommend, "For maximum safety, combine microchip registration with wearing an identification tag during walks."
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