WHEN a five-year-old maltese named Cupcake went missing from her Sydney home just before Christmas her owner, Belinda Woods, never imagined that a tiny piece of technology would help them be reunited in Bathurst.
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After five weeks of searching, scouring ‘lost dog’ social media sites and hoping, the family finally got the call they were waiting for last Thursday.
The dog had been brought in to Stewart Street Veterinary Hospital by a man who had been given the dog.
Veterinary nurse Paige Adams said the man, who had been suspicious of the dog’s background, had done exactly the right thing.
When Cupcake’s microchip was scanned it revealed she had been reported missing on December 21 from an address in Mt Pritchard, Sydney.
The missing, now found, dog was then reported to Bathurst Regional Council and Mrs Woods got the call she had been waiting for.
“I was shocked, absolutely shocked,” she said.
Miss Adams said when he discovered the dog had been reported missing the man “was only too happy” to hand Cupcake over.
“It’s one of the best parts of the job, reuniting pets with their owners ... it’s a good feeling,” she said.
“It’s probably the furthest one we’ve had reunited with their owner.”
Mrs Woods said she was grateful to everyone involved in helping reunite her family with their beloved Cupcake.
“I’m very grateful to the man who brought her in to check if she already had an owner,” she said.
Mrs Woods urged all pet owners to ensure their animal’s microchip details were up-to-date as that was the only way she could have found Cupcake again.
“People put collars on, but don’t rely on them. Just remember, when you move or update your number to change your details [on the microchip],” she said.
Miss Adams said changes to your contact details, including address or phone numbers, should be reported to council so your pet’s microchip can be updated.