Losing a pet is every pet owner’s worst nightmare. When our lead CSR, Shelby’s, cat Flynn went missing in December of 2018, she was devastated. It was a complete accident – someone in the home had left the front door cracked open overnight and he got out. Days turned to weeks with no sign of him. She posted flyers all throughout the neighborhood. She spent countless hours searching and calling for him, shaking a treat bag the whole time. She even acquired a trail camera and placed his food and litter box out on the front porch hoping he would come home. But after a month, there was still no sign of him. Having lost many cats to coyotes as a child, Shelby started to give up hope that Flynn would ever come home.
Then, something amazing happened. One night, Shelby realized she had a voicemail from Washoe County Animal Services calling to let her know that they had found Flynn! They were able to scan his microchip that had been placed when Shelby adopted him from the Nevada Humane Society a few years prior, and because of that they were able to get Shelby’s contact information. Shelby was ecstatic and eager to get Flynn home. Unfortunately, it was after hours when she finally listened to the message, so she went to Animal Services the next day to get him. Flynn was just as happy to see Shelby as she was to see him (she even started crying out of joy), and they two went home to celebrate.
Flynn is still a happy, healthy boy who has learned to never stray far from home. And it was all because of a tiny microchip that he was reunited with his family!
His story is a testament to why microchipping is so important, and we hope it inspires others to take this simple step to protect their pets!
