Who would have believed it? Certainly not Jose Barajas of Chula Vista. The family’s pet Pomeranian disappeared more than two-and-a-half years ago, but today the tan bundle of energy is running around their Eastlake family home like she owns the place.
“It’s insane, right?” said Barajas. “Everyone is amazed.”
He never thought he’d see the little pooch again. She disappeared from their former home in Otay Ranch after gardeners had left a gate open. Barajas figured someone picked her up and took her home.
So imagine his surprise when he got a call at work early this week saying the Pomeranian had been found near Palm Avenue. Her microchip identified Barajas as the owner. He picked up the little ball of fur at the County Animal Services facility in Bonita Tuesday.
“When I gave the dog to him she recognized him and was very happy to see him,” said County Animal Control Lieutenant Lisa Worrick.
Barajas saw the tiny dog was missing a tooth, her hair was matted and her nails were too long. Now though, Marilyn Monroe is as glamorous as her name after getting groomed Wednesday. She’s back home and happy to be back with her dear old friend, a 15-year-old bulldog/retriever/chow blend named Daisy. Despite the long separation, Barajas said the two recognized each other right away.
Barajas is telling her story to all his friends and at least one neighbor is convinced. She’s taking her dogs in to get microchipped.
County Animal Services offers microchipping at all three of its facilities in Bonita, San Diego and Carlsbad plus regular clinics where pet owners can get microchips, rabies vaccinations and dog licenses all at the same time. The next clinic takes place from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 9 at the animal care facility at 5480 Gaines Street in San Diego.
“A microchip is the best way to reunite animals with their owners,” said County Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson. “The chip itself is smaller than a grain of rice and getting one doesn’t hurt the animal one bit yet it’s made all the difference in bringing hundreds of lost pets and their owners back together again.”
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DAS will microchip pets for a one-time fee of $10, which includes the registration. Rabies vaccinations for dogs four months or older and cats three months or older are $6. Amnesty from late fees is offered to owners who failed to license their dog or allowed their dog’s annual license to lapse. Spay/neuter discount coupons will be available, $100 for female cats and dogs, and $75 for all males.
Rabies vaccinations and microchipping are available to anyone. Spay/neuter coupons and licenses are available to residents who live in the department’s service area of the unincorporated county or the contract cities of San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar and Santee.
To protect owners and their pets, dogs must be on a leash and cats in a carrier while visiting the clinic. For more information, contact DAS at (619) 767-2675 or visit sddac.com.
Take it from Barajas, he never expected to see the family’s dog again, but with a microchip he now knows – never say never.
