Reunited after missing for one year

 

Bert back with the family

Bert was chosen by Genevieve’s three children out of litter when he was just four-weeks-old. He was the biggest and busiest Schnauzer and looked like he’d be a loyal addition to the family.

When Bert was just one, he suddenly vanished from the family’s secure yard in Hobart. He suspiciously disappeared on the day Genevieve and her family were moving house, before the removal truck even arrived. His collar and tags had been removed by someone and were found dumped in the front garden. It was presumed Bert had been stolen.

“I had heard that young pedigree dogs get stolen and on-sold but I thought that was an urban myth. It really does happen; it happened to us,” said Genevieve.

“My children were very distressed. We did a letterbox drop, informed the local radio station of Bert’s disappearance and drove around day after day looking for him and listening for him”.

“He had a very distinctive high pitched bark. My son couldn't believe he would leave or forget his way home because they had walked all over our neighbourhood together,” said Genevieve.

Months passed and a year went by. Hopes of finding Bert again dissolved and Genevieve decided to buy another pup for her heartbroken children. Slowly, they began to love their new puppy, Jane, just like they did Bert.

Miraculously, one year and two months after Bert’s initial disappearance, Genevieve received the call from the National Pet Register to say Bert had turned up at a veterinary surgery in Launceston, two and half hours from Hobart. The vet was suspicious when she looked at the microchip message stating "missing, possibly stolen, reported to police". The vet took possession of the dog. Even more suspiciously Bert was still being called Bert.

“My first instinct when I got the phone call was that he must have been injured or dead. I knew we would hear about him one day because he was microchipped when he was desexed at about 9 months of age. I am so glad the vet recommended the microchip”.

“We had almost given up on finding Bert, but I kept his rug and collar”.

“Aside from being a bit overweight now, he is in good health, he was clipped and clean and the vet who found him wormed him and gave him a booster vaccination. He's much quieter than he was, a bit timid in comparison to his old self, but hopefully he'll get his confidence back”.

“He almost wagged his bottom off when he was re-united with my son and his rug. The boys have been constant companions, sleeping and even showering together. It took a few days for our new pup Jane and Bert to come to an understanding, but little Jane now knows her place”.

Genevieve’s story is one that has a happy ending, thanks to Bert’s microchip. Microchips are the only form of permanent identification in pets and are now compulsory for new council registrations in some states of Australia. The National Pet Register is Australia’s largest non-profit microchip registration, pet identification and recovery service and is operated by The Lost Dogs' Home. For more information or to obtain a free collar ID tag, visit petregister.com.au.

If you would like to assist The Lost Dogs' Home to run the National Pet Register, please make a donation.  All donations, large or small help operate this vital community service which reunites over 1,000 pets with their owners every week.