A male dachshund found as a stray in Pittsburgh, PA has been confirmed as the missing family pet of Elda Arguello of Pleasantville, NJ. "Tootsie", believed to have been stolen from the family's gated yard, has been missing for nearly five years. Through confirmation via an implanted HomeAgain microchip on the dog, the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania reunited owner and pet in Harrisburg, PA on Monday, November 24, 2008.

This incredible discovery was made when Edna Colon, daughter of Elda Arguello, responded to a letter that the family received from the shelter in Pittsburgh. All animals brought to the Animal Rescue League are scanned for an implanted microchip when they are brought to the facility. If a microchip exists, the number is checked in a national database and the owner on file is contacted. In this case, the phone number on file did not yield a response. However, the shelter sent a letter to Ms. Arguello and received a return call several days later.

At only six months of age, Tootsie went missing from the family's gated yard nearly five years ago. Implanted microchips in pets are critical to reuniting lost pets with their owners. The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania places a microchip in every animal that is adopted from the shelter. The shelter also runs a veterinary clinic that can implant the chip into any pet, whether it is a rescued animal or not. "Given the distance and time involved in this case, the chances were about one in a million that Tootsie would ever be reunited with his original owners. Without the HomeAgain microchip that was found on Tootsie, the reunion would have been completely unequivocally and undeniably impossible. I can't think of a better ambassador for having your pet micro-chipped than Tootsie," said Janice Barnard, the Animal Rescue League of Western PA's Director of Special Programs.

"We appreciate the Animal Rescue League. If not for them and the (HomeAgain) microchip, we would never have seen Tootsie again. Because (the Animal Rescue League) understands animal lovers, they did all that they could to find us. We are so thankful to (the organization) and their work to get Tootsie back to our family," said eighteen year old Edna Colon.

For additional information on Tootie's incredible story or the Animal Rescue League of Western PA, contact Tifanie Tiberio, Director of Marketing & Special Events at ttiberio@animalrescue.org, or visit www.animalrescue.org

Posted By: Tifanie Tiberio, Pittsburgh, PA - 1/11/2009
Pet Name: Tootsie  Species: Dog  Breed: Dachshund  Sex: Male