A local woman was losing hope that she would ever see her beloved dog again but thanks to a micro-chip, she was able to locate "Cooper" who was found over a 1,000 miles away.
Nampa resident Jaylene Comstock has been counting down the hours ever since she was told her 2-year-old dog would be sent home Wednesday from Arizona.
With "Cooper," a Yorkshire Terrier, back by her side, Comstock says this will be a holiday season she will never forget.
"I was so afraid he was out in the cold and hungry. I didn't know where he was or if he was being taken care of... or if he was alive," Comstock says.
Comstock has been searching for "Cooper" for the last three and a half months. She put up flyers and hit the streets on her bike with the hope he would recognize her voice as she called out his name. She says she came home from work one day, and "Cooper" was gone.
It turned out that Comstock's longtime friend, whom she'd let stay at her house for three weeks before returning home to Arizona, took him.
"I have no idea what went through her mind," Comstock says. "I think she just fell in love with him. He's such a lovable little guy, she didn't want to leave without him."
About a week ago, Comstock found out what happened through a mutual friend. Because "Cooper" was micro-chipped, animal control in Tucson could verify that, indeed, the dog belonged in Idaho.
With help from multiple people in Arizona, they were finally reunited.
"I had really given up hope," Comstock says. "So, this is like a miracle."
Comstock is now urging pet owners to get their animals micro-chipped. This can be done at the time of their adoption or by making an appointment with a veterinarian.
If you already have your pet micro-chipped, it may be worth making sure the contact information on file is up-to-date.
