Christmas Miracle: Dog Found In Metro Detroit 3 Years After Going Missing In Ohio
ROMULUS (WWJ) - A dog who was missing for three years has been reunited with his family just in time for Christmas after being found almost 200 miles away from home.
Earlier this month, Donna Wreford found a small Yorkshire Terrier wandering around her Romulus home. After asking around the neighborhood, Wreford took the dog to the Romulus Animal Shelter.
Workers at the shelter used an electronic wand to scan the dog and determined he had a microchip implant that had owner information on file with the American Kennel Club. Workers contacted the AKC, who confirmed that the dog was reported missing by a family located in Columbus, Ohio more than three years ago.
The AKC contacted the owners, Ta-Shina and Darrin Green -- who were still currently living in Columbus -- and advised them to contact the Romulus Animal Shelter for some good news regarding their lost dog.
The Green family immediately contacted the shelter and finally heard the news they had been waiting so long for -- that after three years of being missing, their long-lost dog "Rexxn" was found in Romulus, around 200 miles north of his home.
The Greens immediately drove the three and a half hour trek from Columbus, making it to the shelter just before closing time, and were finally reunited with Rexxn.
"After three years I never thought I would see my dog again. This truly is the best Christmas ever for our family," said Ta-Shina Green. "When Rexxn came up missing I was nine months pregnant, and my daughter (now three years old) and Rexxn are already attached to one another as though he had been with us her whole life."
After arriving back home in Columbus, Rexxn was examined by a veterinarian and required multiple surgical incisions to remove the matted and tangled fur that had grown into his skin. Ta-Shina Green said he is healing fine and spends most of his day cuddled up right next to his family.
"The vet said other than the fur matting and some physical effects of living on the streets, Rexxn was relatively healthy overall and has a great temperament," she said.
Romulus Mayor LeRoy D. Burcroff said he hopes the story will be a reminder to all pet owners.
"With the successful reunion of Rexxn with his family, I'm hoping this story will encourage more pet owners to consider having their pet microchipped with both the identification and tracking devices to ensure all pets make it back home," Burcroff said.
