Missing dog reunited with family after two years

When Thomas Wright was contacted by a person who had found a dog but couldn't keep it, it was not an unusual event. 

Wright operates an animal blood bank. Some would say a disposal ground for unwanted dogs where people just want to get rid of their problem fast and don't care what happens to it. What some people don't know, is that Wright, who lives south of Corning, does outreach to different rescue groups to rehome dogs that he picks up from shelters, most on the euthanasia list, many that could not be used as blood donors because of their size.

In the case of Tinkerbelle, a dog who had been left on the side of the road to fend for herself, Wright accepted the dog. When a preliminary exam was done to see if the dog had a microchip, Wright found that the dog did, indeed, have a microchip. He contacted the microchip manufacturer, found the name of the registered owner on file, and called them.

What happened next is a fairy tale. Tinkerbelle had been missing for two years. Cindia Witherow of El Dorado had only had Tinkerbelle, a 9-month-old Beagle at the time, for a month before she came up missing with her other female Beagle. The other Beagle was found shortly afterward when someone found her hurt and took her to the vet. The vet scanned the dog for a microchip and reunited Witherow with her pet. But Tinkerbelle was nowhere to be found.

Witherow put up flyers and she put ads in newspapers. Tinkerbelle had a collar with her name and phone number. But no one called. No one that is until Thomas Wright, who had the dog three hours away from where she used to live.

Did Tinkerbelle remember Witherow? "I think she does remember me. She's glued to me right now," Witherow said. 

Unfortunately, when Witherow took her to the vet to have her checked out to make sure everything was okay she was told that Tinkerbelle was pregnant. Witherow did not intend to breed Tinker and actually had plans to have her spayed when she came up missing. Witherow has been put in touch with a rescue organization that specializes in Beagles by Second Chance Pet Rescue so that when the pups are old enough they can be placed appropriately into new homes.

Many of the dogs ending up in the blood bank are the castoffs, the throwaways--dogs and cats that people just want to get rid of fast and don't want to go through elaborate shelter paperwork, time, or pay fees. It is a necessity to have animal blood donors but what happens to the animals afterwards? In the case of Wright's operation, those that are adoptable are placed in a rehoming facility called Light at the End of the Tunnel.

These dogs and cats have served humans and canine alike and deserve to have a second chance.

For more information about Second Chance Pet Rescue or to make a donation call 824-1985.