Microchip Reunites Dog Five Years, 365 Miles Later

Monday, November 24, 2008 | 12:56 PM

By Rob Jennings

PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. - November 23, 2008 (WPVI) -- The reunion to happen Monday is an early Thanksgiving present to the family.

A male dachshund found as a stray in Pittsburgh, PA has been confirmed as the missing family pet of Elda Arguello of Pleasantville, NJ. "Tootsie", believed to have been stolen from the family's gated yard, has been missing for nearly five years.

Through confirmation via an implanted microchip on the dog, the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania will reunite owner and pet in Harrisburg, PA on Monday, November 24, 2008.

This incredible discovery was made late last week when Edna Colon, daughter of Elda Arguello, responded to a letter that the family received from the shelter in Pittsburgh.

All animals brought to the Animal Rescue League are scanned for an implanted microchip when they are brought to the facility. If a microchip exists, the number is checked in a national database and the owner on file is contacted. In this case, the phone number on file did not yield a response. However, the shelter sent a letter to Ms. Arguello and received a return call several days later.

At only six months of age, Tootsie went missing from the family's gated yard nearly five years ago. At the time, the family had another puppy, a Rottweiler named Baby. Sadly, Baby passed away at the age of three after eating contaminated dog food. The family is both shocked and overwhelmed with joy to receive word that their long lost pet is alive, well, and coming home. Several members of the family will meet an Animal Rescue League staff member tomorrow morning in Harrisburg for the reunion.

The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania places a microchip in every animal that is adopted from the shelter. The shelter also runs a veterinary clinic that can implant the chip into any pet, whether it is a rescued animal or not.

"Given the distance and time involved in this case, the chances were about one in a million that Tootsie would ever be reunited with his original owners. Without a microchip, the reunion would have been completely unequivocally and undeniably impossible. I can't think of a better ambassador for having your pet micro-chipped than Tootsie," said Janice Barnard, the Animal Rescue League of Western PA's Director of Special Programs.

"We appreciate the Animal Rescue League. If not for them and the microchip, we would never have seen Tootsie again. Because (the Animal Rescue League) understands animal lovers, they did all that they could to find us. We are so thankful to (the organization) and their work to get Tootsie back to our family," said eighteen year old Edna Colon.

The family looks forward to giving thanks this Thursday for their long-lost family member's return.

Information from the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania. http://www.animalrescue.org

(Copyright ©2008 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Cat reunited after 17 months from microchip

Lost crew cat resurfaces
After 17 months, ship gets feline mascot back

By IRA PORTER
The News Journal

When the Kalmar Nyckel's new crew kitten disappeared in May 2007, the crew of the 17th-century replica tall boat searched everywhere for him -- to no avail.

So when they heard this week that the cat was found -- having survived 17 months of apparent roaming around downtown Wilmington -- they were as surprised as they were grateful. On Thursday, Timmynocky -- looking a little thin but a lot bigger than when he wandered off as a 6-month-old kitten last year -- finally returned home.

"We lost a kitty and we got a cat back -- and he's a big cat," said Marcia Ferranto, executive director of the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation.

The cat, whose name is sailor slang for whatzit or thingamajiggy, was about 6 months old when he disappeared just weeks after the crew adopted him from a local shelter. He apparently wandered off from Dravo Plaza near the Shipyard Shops, where the Kalmar Nyckel docks between trips.

The crew thought he was on board when they set sail, and as soon as they realized he was missing, a search party was dispatched on the Riverfront to find him, Ferranto said.

"We found his collar but we did not find the cat," Ferranto recalled.

After three months of looking and chasing down dead-end tips on Timmy sightings, the search was called off.

On Monday, Ferranto got a call from the Talleyville Veterinarian Clinic, saying they had found the crew's cat, identifying him as Timmynocky by a microchip that had been implanted under his skin.

"If it wasn't for that chip, Timmy would have been long gone," Ferranto said.

They learned that Wilmington resident Karin Gatenby had found Timmy wandering on Baynard Boulevard and ultimately took him to the clinic that identified him.

On Friday, the grateful crew invited Gatenby to Kalmar Nyckel to thank her, show her Timmy's home and give her a tour of the tall ship.

Timmy, who Ferranto said looked thin and was covered with bugs, nonetheless was greeted warmly by crew members and by fellow crew cat Toolbox, the senior mascot on the Kalmar Nyckel. Timmy also met Lagon, his replacement on the ship -- which brings up another problem:

Due to rules set up by Ferranto, one of the cats, probably Timmy, will be given away because she does not allow more than two cats to be on the ship at the same time. The woman who found him has expressed interest in taking care of him, however.

"We're thrilled to have him back, but my main concern is to do what is best for the cat. Our goal will be to find him a home," Ferranto said, adding that giving him to Gatenby, who took a liking to him, is one option.

His return home also shows the value in having pets identified with microchips.

"Chips are the only sure way you can have your animal returned to you if it gets lost. It's a great tool to be used," Ferranto said. "If you do have a domestic animal, the most prudent thing to do is to have the animal chipped."