Missing Chihuahua Reunited with Owner After 12 Years

For nearly 12 years, Vanessa Antonino’s life felt incomplete without Flor, her 15-year-old chihuahua. Flor was not only a pet, but a constant companion and cherished presence. Antonino reminisced, “Wherever we went, we were always together.” The loss occurred on the North Side of Chicago, where Flor vanished without a trace. Antonino dedicated months to searching for her beloved dog. She grappled with the hope that someone capable of providing Flor with a better life had taken her in.

The years of uncertainty ended unexpectedly with a call from the Evanston Animal Shelter. “We have Flor,” a volunteer informed Antonino. Overwhelmed with emotion, Antonino recalled, “I just went crazy. I started crying, shaking… it had been so many years, but she made it back.” This miraculous reunion was facilitated when Flor was found in Gary, Indiana after a series of severe storms. These storms caused power outages, property damage, and substantial flooding, leading to Flor’s discovery.

Maddie Ratkowski, a veterinary student intern at the Evanston Animal Shelter, shared how Flor was first spotted “roaming the streets of Gary” by a Louisiana construction worker assisting storm cleanup. Flor was then taken to Griffith Animal Control and Shelter, where a microchip was found in her ear. Despite the chip being outdated without a current phone number, volunteers from Microchip Hunters stepped in to research the details. This group specializes in reuniting pets with their owners despite obstacles like outdated microchips.

“When you microchip an animal, there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes info,” Ratkowski explained. They are able to identify implant facilities and details of where the chip was sold. Such information aids shelters in tracking down rescue origins to find any potential link to the animal’s past. Thanks to investigative efforts, Microchip Hunters contacted the Evanston shelter’s canine director. They conveyed news of Flor’s discovery in Gary and connected her with Antonino, now residing in Evanston.

The Evanston Animal Shelter sprang into action. Volunteer Gillian Primavera eagerly drove to Gary to retrieve Flor, while another employee shared the news with Antonino. Antonino expressed shock and disbelief until she physically saw Flor. The reunion involved Antonino’s four children, born after Flor went missing—Flor was now seen as their “big sister.” Antonino recounted their excitement, stating, “My kids knew what she meant to me and what she still means to me… When I told them [the shelter] found Flor, they said, ‘We’re getting her, mommy, right? We’re getting her! She’s coming home.’”

Flor seems to be in remarkably good health for her age. Griffith Animal Shelter provided flea treatments and deworming to ensure her wellbeing. How Flor traveled from Chicago to Gary remains unknown, but Ratkowski emphasized the importance of microchipping pets. “Any stray found in Evanston comes through our doors, dogs and cats, and the first thing we do is always scan for a microchip,” Ratkowski said. A microchip exponentially increases the likelihood of reuniting with a pet’s owner, she added.