What is the importance of a dog microchip?
It can lead your dog back into your life even after it has been gone for years.
Such is the story of Maile Trist, who did not even lose her dog. She was the victim of a vicious lie that was concocted by a “friend.”
That friend told her that her beloved Chihuahua had died, and Trist spent the next two years grieving.
Trist adopted her dog, Jazzy, from a humane society when she was still living in California. She was just in high school then, and Jazzy filled her life with joy and loyal companionship.
Years later, Trist had to entrust her dog to a friend whom she deeply trusted, because she was moving to Kansas. She needed to prepare a lot of things in California for the transfer to their new home, and so she entrusted her dog to that “friend” in Kansas who seemed jovial at first.
But to Trist’s shock, upon finally settling in her new Kansas residence, she could no longer contact that friend whom she had asked to temporarily take care of Jazzy. Despite her being blocked by that friend, she made every effort to reach out to them. In the end, Trist was simply told that her senior Chihuahua died.
Trist was devastated; she did not even have the chance to see her dog for one last time.
Two years passed, and Trist adopted another dog again. But her heartache due to Jazzy’s death has not faded away.
And so you can imagine Trist’s reaction after receiving a call from the Cowley County Humane Society, who told her that her dog Jazzy was alive! The Chihuahua was found at a rock quarry in Cedar Vale, Kansas, and the good samaritans turned the old dog over to the animal shelter.
According to Cowley County Humane Society, they located a microchip on Jazzy, and even though it stated that her owner was a resident of California, they still did their best to contact Trist.
Trist quickly drove to Cowley County, and she could hardly believe that her beloved dog was really alive after all!
“I was crying, and I was shaking because I was so overjoyed that, for one, she’s alive, and two, I could bring her finally home,” said Trist.
Her deepest regret was trusting that so-called friend. But the most important thing was she finally got Jazzy back.
Jazzy was also so happy to be with Trist in her new home, along with a new dog buddy!
Watch this most memorable video of Trist and Jazzy!
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
