Alvin went missing on the 4th April’15 from Sheffield, S9. Owners did everything they could to find Alvin. Reported him missing to the dog warden, the microchip database, registered him on Doglost.co.uk and other animal search pages, started a Facebook page, a Thunderclap and were Tweeting.
Alvin was found the same day he went missing, by a kind man, who found him unconscious and immediately took him to a vets. The vet failed to scan for a microchip and didn’t tell the gentleman what procedure to follow when finding a stray dog. Guideline from RCVS and BVA for vets being presented with a found, stray dog is to scan for a microchip. All found dogs must be reported to the local dog warden, by law.
It’s quite simple if microchips are not scanned, families are not reunited. How many other pets have disappeared this way?
Alvin was not reunited until the 29th April’15. If it hadn’t been for the owner needing an oil change, they may never of found Alvin.
Post from owner:- “Alvin is home safe and well, he was found unconscious after being hit by a car. The man who found him is from Barnsley but rents a garage just two streets away and when I took my car in for an oil change and mentioned the dog he told me what had happened!
He took Alvin to the vet and there were no broken bones, he has a cut that’s healing well so the man took him home and has been looking after him.
Alvin looks really fit and healthy, has been well cared for and obviously loves the guy who is Iranian and didn’t know the law about having to report found dogs, he bought Alvin a new collar and a toy, food and shampoo which he gave me and refused any monetary reward just asked that if he sires any puppies he would like one.
We would like to thank the many thousands of you who have liked , shared and posted to Alvin’s page and after this experience we vow to be active in the community doing our best to help others who have lost and stolen pets.
All in all a happy ending for us, but for those still waiting for news, the message is don’t give up hope.”
It is also important for all owner’s to know that by law your dog must wear a collar and ID tag.
In the UK, the Control of Dogs Order 1992 states that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your telephone number was optional but we would recommend this.
This includes dogs that are microchipped.
Suggested idea’s:- Surname, house number, postcode, mobile.
Compulsory microchipping comes into force on the 6th April’16. Sadly it will be law to microchip but scanning is left as optional. We will start a new petition May’15.
Lucky boy Alvin, now home!
