Dog Reunites With Owner 6 Years After it Was Stolen

A pomeranian reunited with his owner in Santa Barbara almost 6 years after he was stolen.

6 years ago, Cindy Miller went out of town and left her dog, Chili, with a dog sitter. Someone stole Chili from the sitter’s backyard.

Miller was devastated, but never gave up hope.

“We plastered with flyers. We went door to door all Thanksgiving Weekend, and nothing, nothing, nothing,” said Cindy Miller, Chili’s mother.

Two years ago, Miller was offered a job opportunity in Santa Barbara. She reluctantly moved, fearing Chili could still be out there.

“Almost on a daily basis, I still thought about him and then I was at the YMCA the other night and got out of my class and my phone was blowing up,” said Miller.

Several days ago, two sisters found Chili about 30 miles away from his old home in Northern California. Chili, now almost 11-years-old, was in bad shape. He had fleas, kennel cough, loose teeth and matted hair.

“We took him to the vet and he was chipped and it was like wow. It was wonderful and I love animals and I do everything I can for animals,” said Vicky Aldana.

The Aldana sisters took the dog to a veterinarian. There, Chili was scanned for a microchip. His information showed only one working phone number.

More than 10 million pets go missing each year across the country. Most of them are taken to veterinarians or turned into animal shelters.

“On this microchip, you have your name, the address, where you live, your pet’s name. Everything is there. So in the case they need to be reunited, everything will work out perfectly,” said Dr. Courtney Campbell, a veterinarian at VCA Care Specialty and Emergency Animal Hospital.

Since Chili was returned, he hasn’t left his mother’s side. Miller considers his return a “miracle.” She and veterinarians across the country recommend pet owners to microchip their cats and dogs.