Tiny Dog Lost in Remote Desert Reunited With Dad Thanks to Microchip & Kind Strangers
For dog mom, hiker, and ‘van life’ content creator Vanessa Keating (AKA @nomaddiaries on TikTok), animal rescue was not in her plans. Nevertheless, she and her loved ones have rescued several stray and abandoned dogs from harsh conditions as they camp across the Southwest. Only days after saying her final goodbyes to a sickly rescue puppy who didn’t survive a mystery illness, Vanessa stumbled upon a small lost dog in the middle of the desert.
Though she didn’t know it at the time, the dog’ name is Echo, and he was, indeed, lost. Fortunately, though, he crossed paths with the right people, and he took a big leap of faith by approaching them while they were out for a walk. Vanessa did not hesitate to stop and help him, especially since he was alone in coyote territory.
The Tiny Dog’s Huge Leap of Faith
To say it lightly, Echo was unsure about asking for help. Even though he approached his rescuers, he also growled and flinched when they first reached out to pet him. Naturally, it was only a matter of moments before this little dog was accepting pets and scratches. After earning his trust, his rescuers carefully removed the small cactus stuck on him, and he knew for sure they were there to help. When they picked him up to take him back to camp, his tail didn’t stop wagging!
Even though Echo knew he was safe now, his journey was far from over. First, the group checked with the few nearby homes to see if anyone was missing a dog–they weren’t. Vanessa knew that the next step was to take him to a local vet clinic to check for a microchip. They didn’t expect him to have one considering where he was found, but sure enough, he did have a microchip!
@nomaddiaries So… we found ANOTHER dog. #rvlife #vanlife #dog #straydog ♬ original sound – Vanessa Keating
How a Microchip Led to a Reunion
In a perfect world, Echo’s microchip would’ve been registered with his owner’s contact information. Then, Vanessa or the veterinary staff would’ve been able to call his owner for a quick and easy reunion. Unfortunately, this was not the case this time around.
@nomaddiaries Replying to @rainbow.giraffe Update on the lost dog in the desert #straydog #dog ♬ original sound – Vanessa Keating
While this lost dog’s microchip was registered, the only contact information that came up was a veterinary office in Phoenix. This wouldn’t have been too tricky if Echo were found in the same city, but Vanessa found him “way east” of Phoenix. Because of this, it took way more time and effort to find Echo’s rightful owner. But would you like to know the good news? They found him!
When Vanessa watched Echo scurry across her lap to greet his dad on February 6, she must’ve felt relieved and overjoyed. She and her loved ones explained how the dog’s owner could register the microchip to himself on the website Home Again, so if Echo ever escaped again, the good samaritan who helps him only has to visit a vet who can scan the microchip.
Stories like Echo’s are wonderful examples of how microchipping pets can quite literally save their lives. Thousands of unidentified pets end up in shelters every year, but one vet visit can ensure that that never happens to your dog. The good news is that most shelters and rescues will include microchipping in their adoptions fees, so you won’t have to go our of your way to get this done.
@nomaddiaries Replying to @stynalane The finale! #straydog #dog #rvlife #vanlife ♬ original sound – Vanessa Keating
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