UPDATE Feb. 2, 2012 @2:58 p.m. CST:
GRIZZ UPDATE: Heartland SPCA Volunteer Kathi Thies and Grizz started the journey last night and stopped for the night at a hotel. The hotel normally charges $10 for a dog… but the front desk heard the story and told them not to worry. The trip today is going well! They just stopped for gas in Dix, Nebraska, and she said Grizz is doing great! Thank you Kathi Thies! You truly are a HERO for pets!
Check out our facebook page for additional photos: http://www.facebook.com/heartlandspca.
Thank you to the area media and others for helping us share Grizz’s AMAZING journey!
http://www.kmbc.com/news/30355082/detail.html
http://fox4kc.com/2012/02/01/kc-woman-drives-600-miles-to-return-lost-dog/
http://www.kctv5.com/story/16652023/kc-shelter-finds-lost-dogs-family-1200-miles-away
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/01/3404552/montana-dog-heads-home-after-kc.html#disqus_thread
Jan. 31, 2012
MERRIAM, KAN – The Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center accepted a lost dog on Wednesday, Jan. 25th with a microchip registered more than 1,200 miles away. Within 24 hours the dog’s microchip connected Heartland SPCA with his owner in Butte, Mont.
“The phone number affiliated with the microchip was disconnected,” Intake Coordinator Wendy Blair said. “However, we were successful in contacting the animal shelter where the dog was microchipped, and they had valid contact information for its owners.”
During standard intake procedures at the Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center, the dog was scanned for microchip identification. Microchips are small, rice size devices that are implanted just underneath the skin. The permanent identification tool affiliates with a national database of registered identification numbers.
“We were thrilled to see a microchip,” Blair said. “This is the most effective way for us to reunite a pet with its owner.”
As luck would have it, the microchip identified the dog as “Grizz,” a one-year old Lab/Pit mix, with a loving home in Butte, MT.
“Grizz immediately stole our hearts,” Blair said. “Our standard behavior assessment reinforced that Grizz is a great dog. He is very sweet, patient, curious and even housetrained! He’s just been hanging out with rawhides and squeaky toys as we figure out his journey to return home.”
Longtime volunteer and friend of Heartland SPCA Kathi Thies immediately volunteered to drive Grizz half way home. Grizz’s owner is eager to meet her along the way in Cheyenne, Wyo.
“This is an incredible story of one pet’s journey to return home – all thanks to a microchip,” Wendy said. “Whether down the street or across the nation, this is what my job is all about. Without the microchip, the dedication of our volunteers and Grizz’s owner, this reunion would not be happening. ”
Volunteer Kathi Thies will prepare Grizz for his return home at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1st at the Heartland SPCA Lost Pet & Intake Center at 9827 W. 67th St. in Merriam, KS 66203.
The media is invited to attend and is encouraged to RSVP. Please contact Heartland SPCA Director of Marketing & Communications Emily Amos at (913) 742-7319, (620) 272-1677 or eamos@heartlandspca.org for more information.
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Heartland SPCA is a recent merger of Animal Haven and No More Homeless Pets KC. As the Greater Kansas City area’s most comprehensive resource for pets and their human companions, Heartland SPCA serves more than 18,000 pets each year. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Heartland SPCA works to save, protect and improve the lives of animals, while strengthening the relationship between pets and their human companions providing humane sheltering, adoptions, and affordable spay/neuter and veterinary wellness services.
Posted on February 2, 2012
