When Debi Vazquez of San Antonio, Texas received a voicemail on October 25 she assumed it was a friend wishing her a happy birthday. She was shocked to hear that her dog, King, missing for more than six years, had been found.
Not only was the 15-year-old Chihuahua mix alive and well, but he was also 1,360 miles away at the Humane Society of Broward County (HSBC) in Ft Lauderdale, Florida!
“It was just a miracle. One of my dogs had just died – we had to put her down because she had cancer,” Debi told KSAT News. “She brought King home to us 13 days after her passing.”
Debbie and her daughter, Danae decided to make the 23-hour journey by car with their dog, Rocky in tow.
Rocky and the family’s recently deceased dog Cookie were with King in the fully-fenced backyard the day he went missing in June 2014. Debi let all three out to relieve themselves as she’d done countless times before, but when it was time to come in only Rocky and Cookie returned.
“There wasn’t any barking or anything and there are no holes in the fence. He was just gone,” Debi said.
Debi searched for months, hanging fliers and visiting all the local shelters and veterinary hospitals, but found no trace of King.
It seemed to be the end of the story. Then, on Sunday, October 25, 2020, a woman walked into the Humane Society of Broward County to surrender her dog. She said she was ill and could no longer care for him. She also told the staff she’d gotten the ten-pound senior Chihuahua mix six months previously from his former owner.
As is their policy, Humane Society staff scanned the dog for a microchip, and to their surprise, there was one. They contacted the microchip company to trace the identification number and soon learned the mild-mannered pooch was named King and he’d been reported missing from Texas six years ago!
Debi and Danae arrived at BCHS to see a host of reporters waiting to capture their incredible reunion.
“All these news stations were there – we felt like King didn’t recognize us right away because of all the cameras but once we walked out of the shelter he knew us immediately,” said Danae.
BCHS put the family up in a hotel overnight so they could prepare for their return trip to Texas. Unfortunately, their joy was temporarily overshadowed by Hurricane Zeta which caused tornadoes and stretched out their trip for several extra hours.
Debi says the extraordinary birthday news, subsequent road trip, and everything that came along with the emotional journey was all worth it to finally have King home.
“I’ve had him since he was born. I had his mom and he was born inside the house,” she said.
King was eight when he disappeared and turned nine just one month later. Now, at 15 years old, he is finally back where he belongs.
H/T to KSAT News & The Humane Society of Broward County
Featured Screenshot via Facebook/Humane Society of Broward County
Toledo, United States.
