Dog, owner reunited after microchip mix-up

Chihuahua turned away by veterinarian after he couldn't contact owner

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A Miami-Dade County woman has been reunited with her missing dog after a microchip mix-up.

Tuesday was a happy reunion for Genevieve Pardo and her Chihuahua mix, Ellie, who had been missing since June 3, when the dog ran out of a front door that was accidentally cracked open.

The southwest Miami-Dade County woman believed that joyous moment would have happened nearly a week ago, when she got an email from Ellie's microchip company, Home Again.

"We have great news," the email read. "We have just received a call from Dream Lake Animal Hospital letting us know they took in a pet with Ellie's microchip number."

But when Pardo got in touch with the animal hospital, she learned Ellie was missing again.

Dr. Sergio Vega said he scanned Ellie for a microchip, but the phone number he tried calling was incorrect, so he allowed the good Samaritan who brought in the dog to leave with her.

"So you didn't take down this woman's name or number or anything that came in with the dog?" Local 10 News reporter Erica Rakow questioned.

"No. We don't have to do that," Vega replied.

Pardo came to Local 10 for help to track down Ellie once again. The woman who brought the dog in to get scanned saw the news report and contacted Local 10.

One day later, Ellie was back with her family.

"It feels like Christmas," Pardo said. "It feels like a miracle, amazing. I just feel like screaming at the top of my lungs."