Dog Missing for 2 Years Reunited with Family
Monday, September 14th, 2009 was just like any other day at the Humane Society of Central Oregon. A City of Bend officer brought in a stray dog found in a local park. Upon arrival, the staff found no collar and identification tag, but there was a microchip implant. The owner, Julie Darrow, could barely speak when she was told that her dog, Emma, had been found after nearly two years.
Emma’s owners, Darrow and Rex Gibson, now live in Salem, Oregon, about two hours from Bend. They arrived at the Humane Society of Central Oregon on Tuesday the 15th to get their long lost dog. In a state of disbelief, the three were reunited. Darrow and Gibson said Emma “looked the same, just filled-out.”
Nearly two years ago, Emma was cross-tied in the back of a truck while her owners, Darrow and Rex Gibson dined inside a Bend restaurant. It was getting cold, so, Gibson was going to put Emma in the cab with their other dog. Gibson returned to the dining table and dropped Emma’s collar on the table in shock. It appeared that someone had detached the collar and taken their dog.
Gibson said he reported the missing dog to the shelter immediately, and regularly checked for about three months. After that, they came to realize they would not see their beloved dog again. Both owners stated they believed Emma was alive and they just hoped someone was treating her well.
Karen Szymanski, the shelter manager for the Humane Society of Central Oregon said “this is one of those bittersweet cases. Emma’s original family clearly loved her and came immediately to get her. On the other hand, the family who found Emma on the street nearly two years ago is also losing a beloved companion.” Darrow and Gibson are just happy Emma was taken care of, and are anxious to see the family of two years ago reunited again.
“The Humane Society of Central Oregon is holding a microchip and rabies clinic on Saturday, September 26th, and Emma’s story exemplifies the value of a microchip implant as a form of identification” commented Lynne Ouchida, Community Outreach Coordinator. “We recommend that a visible ID tag is used in conjunction with the microchip identification. An ID tag seems to signify to people that the animal has a family and is missing it,” continued Ouchida.
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