A Jack Russell terrier that somehow ended up nearly 3,000 miles away in Oregon more than four months after she went missing from her home near Philadelphia will soon be flown back to the Keystone State.
A microchip implanted in Gidget allowed workers at an animal shelter south of Portland to find the dog's owner. PetLink, the company that manufactured the microchip, will pay for her return flight, said Deborah Wood, manager of Animal Services for Washington County.
"We have no idea how she came from Pennsylvania to Oregon, but we are thrilled that she will be going home safe and sound," Wood said Thursday.
Gidget's odyssey attracted national attention Wednesday when she turned up at the animal shelter. The owner didn't have the money to fly out to Oregon to retrieve her dog and the shelter doesn't provide transportation. That spurred many people to offer money for the flight.
Wood said a man also came to the Bonnie L. Hays Animal Shelter and paid for all of its expenses caring for the dog.
Wood said the owner of the dog has asked to remain private, but wants everyone to know she's grateful for the outpouring of support.
A good Samaritan spotted the 7-year-old dog earlier this month wandering in the Portland suburb of Tualatin.
Shelter workers contacted the Pennsylvania owner and learned that the dog had been missing since April 22, two days after Easter.
Gidget's whereabouts between April and September are a mystery. She was thin, but in otherwise good shape when brought to the shelter.
"She's never lived here; there is nothing that would bring her here," Wood said. "So a human somehow brought her here, but we don't know who or how."
Wood said Gidget has regained some of the estimated five pounds she lost during her 4 ½ months away from home.
"Her eyes are shiny and she's energetic and her fur looks great," Wood said.
Wood said Gidget's story is a reminder that it's important to microchip your pet.
"I kind of see this as a Disney story," Wood said. "And we are very committed to the happy ending to get her back to her home."
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.
via http://ift.tt/1DpxNGH
Show Konversi KodeHide Konversi Kode Show EmoticonHide Emoticon