FOLIO
Did you know one in three dogs gets lost in its lifetime and, according to the American Humane Society, only about 17 percent is ever recovered? Registered microchips give lost pets the best chance of returning home. Just ask Apollo — he knows first-paw the importance of a microchip. The shaggy canine had somehow traveled more than 1,000 miles to Massachusetts from Jacksonville.
I sat down with the Great Pyrenees mix to hear about his long journey home.
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How did you end up in Massachusetts?
I’m not really sure. One minute, I’m digging through a hole in our fence, and the next, I’m standing off the road miles away from my home. My mom thinks someone might have found me and taken me for a long drive up the East Coast.
What is the furthest you’ve ever wandered from home?
I’m an older dog, so I generally stick to my usual haunts or just shuffle down to the end of the road; I’m not much of an adventurer.
How long were you away from home?
I’m not good at gauging time, but I think it was around a month — in human time.
Were you scared?
Yes — and hungry.
Where were you found?
I was found in a parking lot in the small town of Swansea.
Did someone help you?
Yes. A really nice lady from Animal Control found me roaming around, took me to a shelter, and helped locate my family.
How did they find your family?
I was scanned for a microchip to reveal my special ID number and — BINGO — my information was registered and updated, so the shelter was able to contact my family and let them know I was SAFE, on dog-cation in Massachusetts!
How did you get home?
It was a long ride. The good folks at East Coast Paws Transport — a volunteer pet transportation service — arranged for a relay of nearly two dozen volunteers to drive the distance back to Florida.
Were you excited to be reunited with your family?
Yes! I was happy to see my mom, and she was overjoyed to see me.
What was the first thing you did when you got home?
I gorged myself on food, sunk my paws into my own bed, and got lots of snuggles from my mom.
Any advice for dogs who’ve lost their way home?
I hope you’ll never get lost, but in case you do — and before you do — make sure your human gets you chipped. It can hugely increase your chances of a speedy, happy reunion. Keep in mind: A microchip is only as valuable as its information, so update it regularly.
Word to Humans: Pet microchips are not tracking devices. They are radio-frequency identification implants that provide a permanent ID for pets. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a clinic or shelter, he’ll be scanned to reveal the unique ID number. That number is then called into a pet recovery service, and you’ll be contacted, using the contact information on file with your pet’s microchip. It is vital to keep your contact information current.
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Davi the dachshund isn’t a long-distance solo adventurer, but he does enjoy road trips with his mom.
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