Some dogs that disappeared from their homes often end up in unexpected places. For instance, one Shih Tzu from Jacksonville, Florida was found in New Jersey.
Sammy, the said Shih Tzu, finally made it home eight months following his disappearance. Here’s the pup’s amazing story.
Far away from home
Sammy disappeared from the home of his owner Anne Heimburger in November 2021. This was after Heimburger’s relative accidentally left the house’s front door.
Heimburger immediately started searching for the missing dog. She was afraid that she was never going to see Sammy again.
Sammy is an important part of Heimburger’s life. It was him who comforted his fur mother through chemotherapy.
Heimburger turned to a woman named Karen Hayt for help. She utilized Hayt’s Facebook group called Lost Pets of Jacksonville. Despite the fact that the group had more than 38,000 members who could possibly send some leads, Heimburger’s campaign went nowhere.
Eventually, Heimburger received great news. An update posted on Hayt’s Facebook group said that Sammy was brought to a hospital in Columbus, New Jersey because of an eye infection. When veterinarians scanned the pup, they found a microchip that contained Heimburger’s contact details.
But how did Sammy manage to reach New Jersey? Apparently, someone who visited Jacksonville found Sammy and took him home with them.
A nonprofit organization called S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue, Inc. offered to drive the dog to Florida.
The undeniable benefit of microchipping pets
Hayt shared a valuable insight on her Facebook group. She said that Sammy’s adventure was probably the group’s best story, as it highlighted the importance of having pets microchipped.
Hayt told the press that microchipping is one of the best ways to increase a person’s chances of reuniting with their missing pet. She also shared that when she created her Facebook group, only 10 percent of pooches they helped find were microchipped.
Source: First Coast News via YouTube