After our dog became lost and we were unable to locate him for a while, we received a call a month later informing us that the animal had been located, but that something odd had happened.
When Roy was a puppy, we took him in from the shelter. He moved and divorced with us, grew up with my kids, and became a complete part of the family. He waited for me at the gate every evening, seemingly anticipating my return from work.
When I returned home one day, the gate was open. Roy had left. We initially believed he had simply gone for a stroll. Panic sets in after a couple of hours. We searched with neighbors, put flyers, and phoned all the shelters and veterinary clinics.
A week went by with no sign. Then another. Quiet. The children began to ask questions that were difficult to answer. We were on the verge of giving up on finding him.
Nearly.
I received a call a month later. On the other end, a man said:
Which brown labrador with a white patch on its chest is yours? Is that correct?
Indeed. How did you find out? Have you located our dog?
Indeed, you must visit the refuge located on the outskirts. However, something odd is happening.
My heart nearly stopped. I hurriedly got into the vehicle and headed to the specified spot, where I noticedRoy was 800 kilometers away from us, in a different city, wearing a new name and a stranger’s collar. A couple who claimed to have located the dog in the forest brought him.
However, Roy instantly recognized me; he sprang, howled, and flung himself into my arms as though we had never been separated.
These “finders” were later discovered to be criminals who focused on snatching purebred canines. They were apprehended.
They wanted to sell our dog for several thousand dollars, but Roy would not let anyone near him, barked all the time, and bit everyone. The robbers then brought the dog to the veterinarian after realizing that dealing with him was pointless.
Roy, too? He has returned to us. Currently, he wears a GPS on his collar and gives many hugs each day.
