Sometimes, even in the most painful cases of neglect, there’s a glimmer of hope waiting to be revealed, and Rome’s story is the perfect example.
This sweet Bulldog was found tied to the gate of a Texas shelter, left beside a tiny Chihuahua. All that remained with them was a coat, a blanket, and a handful of toys. The sight was heartbreaking, yet sadly common in Austin.
Staff at Austin Pets Alive! welcomed the pair without hesitation. What they didn’t know was that Rome’s past held an incredible surprise.
A Routine Scan With A Surprising Result
From the start, Rome showed nothing but affection. Nobody knew why he had been abandoned, but the team did what they always do: they brought him in and started the standard intake process.
As part of that routine, they scanned him for a microchip, hoping to find out more about his background. What appeared on the screen left them astonished.
Rome hadn’t been deserted by his original family at all. He had actually gone missing after stepping out into his yard in Perris, California, for a bathroom break, and he never came back.
How he ended up in Texas, over 1,000 miles from home, remains unexplained.
“Rome was found tied to a gate at @austinpetsalive over 1,000 miles away with no ID, alongside a small chihuahua. Thanks to his microchip, we traced him back to his original family,” the rescue shared in an Instagram video.
When the family got the call, they could hardly believe it. They had searched endlessly when Rome first disappeared, putting up flyers, checking every shelter, knocking on doors, and making countless social media posts. After years without a lead, they had finally accepted that he was gone.
But now, everything had changed with one unexpected phone call.
The moment they learned Rome had been found, his family didn’t waste a second. They got in the car and drove all the way from California to Texas, eager to bring him home.
What happened next was pure magic.
A Reunion Filled With Joy
As the family arrived at Austin Pets Alive!, nerves set in. Would Rome recognize them after so much time? Would he still remember their voices, their smell, the bond they once shared?
But the instant he laid eyes on them, all doubt vanished. Rome charged toward his family and threw himself into their arms with overwhelming happiness.
He hadn’t forgotten a thing.
The Bulldog immediately climbed onto his dad’s lap, showering him with kisses and wagging his tail nonstop, as though trying to make up for all the years they had lost.
Back Where He Belongs
No one knows how Rome ended up so far from his home, but one thing was undeniable: as soon as he saw his family, the confusion and fear of the past years melted away.
“Rome is finally back with the family that never stopped loving him, and he’s on his way back to California to start his next chapter–right where he belongs,” APA! shared.
Rome’s journey had the happiest of endings, and it all came down to one small detail—his microchip. That’s why Austin Pets Alive! continues to urge pet owners everywhere to make sure their pets are chipped and that the information is up to date.
“Microchips reunite families. Make sure your pets’ is up to date,” the rescue concluded.