When a pet disappears, the days that follow start to blend together. At first there’s panic, then hope, then the quiet acceptance that comes when weeks stretch into months.
For this family from California, that silence had become routine, something they carried without speaking about it.
The house stayed the same, but it felt different. Each sound reminded them of what was missing. Every walk, every meal, every evening seemed to hold a small space that never refilled.
Still, there were moments when they couldn’t help but look twice, toward a gate, a sound, a memory that never quite faded.
It was easier to believe the story was over than to imagine what might still be possible. Then one day, a call came that made them pause, unsure whether to believe it or not.
What Happened To The Dog?
It was an ordinary day for the Chow family who were just going about their day when they suddenly noticed something was off.
Their dog, Peach, was nowhere to be seen. She went missing and they couldn’t find her anywhere. The family was in despair as they looked for her everywhere.
They reached out to anyone they could regarding information on Peach’s whereabouts. The family also posted fliers, talked to rescue organizations and even scoured the entire area for signs.
The search was ultimately fruitless as they couldn’t find any information on her. Time went by, and the family was slowly starting to accept that their beloved dog was not coming back.
They held a memorial service for Peach, and they tried to move on with their lives, even though it would be very difficult.
About a year after the dog went missing, an officer from the San Rafael Police Department (SRPD) in California, noticed a small Chihuahua who was scared, so he tried to help.
The officer suspected that she had been abused by someone when he encountered her, so he immediately took her to Marin Humane.
A Surprise Call
After taking the pup in, they immediately scanned her for a microchip, and the results were positive. This turned out to be quite a surprise for the rescuers.
They contacted the family immediately to let them know the good news. They were overjoyed to hear that their beloved dog was alive and healthy.
The entire family immediately gathered their things and rushed to the shelter to reunite with her. It was a truly emotional and heartwarming moment.
Peach was overjoyed to see her favorite humans again. It was a huge relief for her. Marin Humane noted that someone likely found her before, but didn’t report it to the local animal shelter.
Despite being missing for over a year, she remembered her family in an instant and it was like all the fear and desperation were gone. She was back to her old self and was now living her old life.
Marin Humane emphasizes the importance of microchipping your pets and also the need for people to report potentially lost animals to the local authorities because it might save their lives.