Chico had not lived with my sister for very long when we were called home in the middle of March, of 2000. Our Dad was dying, and the family was gathering at the hospital. Donna left Chico with a co-worker.

All eleven siblings made it back in time to say our goodbyes, and Dad passed away on March 18, 2000. The funeral was held and it was soon time for my sister to return home to Phoenix She called the day before she was to fly home, to check on how Chico was doing. Much to her dismay, she was told that this co-worker let some other co-worker take Chico, and she left him in an insecure yard. One of the boards of her fence was loose, and he'd escaped. Neither of these women had called to let her know that he'd disappeared a week earlier.

Donna got off the phone in tears. I found out what happened and I was furious. I wanted to call these women but my sister wouldn't let me. She had to work with both of them so she just cried and I sputtered in anger and frustration.

My sister was not online, so when I got home, I printed my Lost, Found, Missing and Stolen Pets Information Page. She made up flyers and started to post them everywhere. She also knocked on hundreds of doors in the area Chico was last seen in, as well as got the flyers to the area shelters and pounds and vets. Her daughter sent a picture to me and I got him posted on the lost and found sites for Arizona and the Phoenix area.

Donna thought that she heard him barking in one house, but the little old lady there would not let her see the dog who was inside, and denied seeing Chico at all. There was not much more she could do. She kept checking the shelters when she could, but eventually adopted two other chihuahuas.

My Mother went to visit her this past June, and upon her return, called me. She mentioned then how much Donna still missed Chico, and how well behaved he'd been in a previous visit. The two chihuahuas she has now are good dogs, but don't have the charm nor the manners that Chico had.

On Monday, July 9, 2001, I got a phone call. A woman said she may know something about my missing dog, even though it's been awhile. (I, of course, thought she meant my Dalmatian, Dulcie, who has been missing for four and a half years. But, she was mentioning streets I had not heard of, and I asked her from where she was calling. She said Phoenix, and I immediately knew she was talking about Chico.

He had been picked up the day before by an Animal Control Officer, and had been running with a cockapoo. He was picked up in the same area as he was lost. I am not quite sure (yet) how she knew about his being picked up, nor why she then looked at the online information I had posted, or even on which site she found him, but she called me and I then called my Mom to get Donna's work and home numbers. My Mom couldn't believe I had gotten this call, and she was so hopeful that this dog would indeed be Chico, knowing how missed he still was, after nearly sixteen months.

I called my sister at work, told her about this call, that her dog may have been picked up, and she said "You're kidding!" I gave her the information and waited for her return call the next day.

There was good news to tell, the next day. She went to the pound and saw the little dog. He'd acted afraid of the man who worked there, but was not afraid of her. She stayed with him and pet him through the wires for two hours. The workers would not let her hold him, and would not let her claim him. She had her photos of him but he'd lightened up a bit, and they did not believe it was the same dog. She told them how one rear leg had lightened up to almost totally tan just in the short time she had him, but to no avail. They would not let her claim her own dog, nor would they even let her put a "hold" on him. He was up for adoption the next day, and she was there as soon as they opened at nine to adopt him.

He was to be neutered on Thursday morning, and she will pick him up on Friday morning. After nearly sixteen months, she has her Chico home at last.

Donna told me something about this pound that was disturbing other than denying her her own dog.

A woman was there to get a dog license for a stray dog she'd taken in. She'd found a pregnant Akita and tried to find its owners. She was unable to, and soon the dog had a litter of puppies. Her yard was fenced, but the dog jumped the fence and this woman got a ticket for a loose dog. She needed to get this dog licensed before her court date, and was there at this pound to get it. However, she needed to prove the dog had a rabies shot in order to get the license and was unable to get the rabies shot because the dog was still nursing her puppies. All the woman wanted was a statement to the effect that she had showed up to get the license, but had to wait til the pups were weaned in order to comply with the rabies vaccination requirement.. The shelter workers told her they could not do that. ???!!!!???

This occurred at the Maricopa Animal Shelter (West ~~ Durango and 35th). I do not know the names of those in charge, but it sounds like the workers there are burned out and do not care about much about animals nor to seeing that they are returned to rightful owners. They don't seem to want to help a woman who took in a pregant dog, and was caring for the dog and the litter of pups, which she was NOT responsible for, rather than bringing them all to the shelter. This woman should have been commended by every worker there, instead of turned away to have to try to get the court to delay her hearing.

There was one nice girl who helped my sister on the day she adopted her own dog. She remembered that Donna had been in, searching for a lost dog, and my sister told her that this was the dog! The girl was upset that my sister was not allowed to claim her dog, and she believed that the little skinny brindle dog WAS Chico. She was also quite upset at the way that my sister was treated and given the run-around the day before. I wish I had her name. (Thanks to whoever you are.)

Friday, July 13 ~~ Chico should be back home this morning.

I had asked for prayers after the first phone call that this would be Chico and I want to thank all who said a little prayer or who sent good thoughts. It is very very much appreciated.

Saturday, July 14 ~~ Donna called and she has Chico home. He is doing well and he is getting along wonderfully with her other two Chihuahuas. She wondered if they are already familiar with his scent. I thought that was a strong possibility.

Most lost dogs are found, if found at all, within a few days or the first week after the disappearance. It is rare, though not unheard of, that a missing dog is found after this length of time. I have read of stories of missing dogs who have been found after as long as seven and even nine years, so I tell people not to give up too soon. It is up to the individual, of course, as to when they believe it is time to give up. So, Chico's return is a bit of a miracle. It was so very frustrating for me, as I had wanted to help from up here in Washington State, and it seemed there was little I could do. It all worked out, though.

Chico will soon be microchipped, too.

More pictures will be posted as soon as I get them from my sister.