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THE STORY OF HERSHEY:
A Microchip is Important, but a Registered Microchip is Crucial
If you ever doubt the importance of
microchipping, when you hear the story of Hershey you’ll be a
confirmed believer in the importance of having proper
identification on our furred friends at all times and why
microchipping can make all the difference in the world.
On October 6 of this year, a scrawny, very matted cocker spaniel
arrived at the LA/SPCA as a stray. Animal control officers had
responded to a call concerning a friendly dog that has been
living own its as a stray and was wandering around a Gentilly
neighborhood. When officers found the dog and brought her to the
shelter, we realized that she was not only alone and wandering,
she was also blind.
As with all strays, LA/SPCA staff scanned the dog for a
microchip in the hopes that this lost dog’s identity could be
ascertained. When the scanner lit up and the readout revealed a
chip number, it’s the best feeling in the world. We realized
that we were just a phone call away from finding the owner, of
course when we find a dog in such condition we also want to
make sure we're putting them back into the best environment.
However, when we pulled up information on the chip number it
revealed that the chip had never been registered. Although a pet
has a microchip implanted, unless the owner registers their
contact number with the microchip manufacturer, the chip is
almost useless.
However, resident lost and found detective extraordinaire,
Laurie Weisberg, used the lot number on the chip and tracked it
down to a veterinarian that lived out of town, but had
participated in microchipping several years ago at a local pet
store chain. Based on that information, Weisberg finally tracked
down a customer, and possibly the owner.
In the meantime, the LA/SPCA named this lost cocker spaniel
Lily, in honor of Lily – a dog who was
separated from her owner
during Hurricane Katrina and was ultimately reunited with
them months later in December 2005 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Rewind the time back to a Gentilly neighborhood in April 2007,
when Jeanne Marie Jean’s cocker spaniel, Hershey, slipped out of
the house when guests were visiting. Jeanne immediately went
around the neighborhood looking for Hershey, certain that she
couldn’t have wandered that far in such a short span time.
Hershey’s vision was already waning so Jeanne felt an even
greater urgency to find her. However, those hours turned into
days, those days into weeks, and those weeks into months. Jeanne
searched throughout the neighborhood and beyond looking for
Hershey to no avail. She also came to the LA/SPCA shelter
knowing that an animal shelter is one of the most important
places to search when looking for a lost pet. After almost a
year, Jeanne painfully accepted that she would never see Hershey
again.
So when Jeanne answered the phone in mid October 2008 and was
told that the LA/SPCA thought they had found her lost dog,
Jeanne couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was asked if
she had ever lost a dog and could she describe the dog. When she
began describing the distinctive white mark under Lily’s (i.e.
Hershey’s) otherwise brown muzzle, LA/SPCA staff knew they had
found Lily’s (i.e. Hershey’s) owner.
 With
a range of emotions – shock, relief, and almost disbelief –
Jeanne arrived at the shelter the next day to make sure this was
indeed her dog. She was somewhat tentative, not wanting to get
her hopes up and afraid of the chance that it wasn’t Hershey
after all, especially after being told that Lily was found less
than a mile from her home. How could she have been so close to
have never found her?
Meanwhile, LA/SPCA personnel groomed Lily and removed all the
matted hair. Suddenly you could see a dog underneath all the
fur.
Early the next day, Jeanne arrived at the shelter and when staff
finally brought out the newly groomed dog into the lobby, Jeanne
had no doubt – Lily was indeed Hershey. LA/SPCA Humane Officer
Beth Horner, who had rescued Lily (i.e. Hershey) was there as
well for the beautiful reunion, overjoyed to see a happy ending
to the often difficult task of bringing in strays, traumatized
and injured.
And for Jeanne, it was both a joy to once again see her Hershey,
and a lesson learned on how important it is to have a microchip
registered.
Most importantly for Hershey, it was finally home sweet home.
- Gloria Dauphin |
