Missing Dog and Owner Reunited After 12 Years

Flor’s Disappearance and Antonino’s Search

For nearly 12 years, Vanessa Antonino lived with the absence of Flor, her 15-year-old chihuahua. “Wherever we went, we were always together. It was me and her; she was my shadow,” Antonino reminisced. The chihuahua went missing on Chicago’s North Side, and Antonino spent months desperately searching. While she never fully accepted Flor’s loss, she hoped someone might have taken her in for a better life.

The Unexpected Call

On Tuesday, years of uncertainty ended. The Evanston Animal Shelter contacted Antonino with news she couldn’t have anticipated. “We have Flor,” a shelter volunteer revealed. Antonino’s reaction was overwhelming. “I just went crazy. I started crying, shaking,” she described. Flor’s discovery in Gary, Indiana, followed recent severe storms that caused power outages and flooding in the area.

Finding Flor

The dog’s incredible journey led her to Gary, where a construction worker from Louisiana, involved in cleanup efforts, found her wandering the streets. Flor reached Griffith Animal Control and Shelter, where a dated microchip was discovered in her ear. Despite lacking her current contact info, Microchip Hunters—a volunteer group dedicated to tracing pet owners—stepped in to help.

“When you microchip an animal, there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes info,” explained Maddie Ratkowski, a veterinary student intern. “Sometimes the owner won’t have called the company to update their info, but we can reach out to the implant facility.”

Reuniting with Flor

Microchip Hunters identified Antonino’s residence in Evanston. Evanston Animal Shelter’s team took swift action, with volunteer Gillian Primavera offering to collect Flor from Gary. Antonino, her children, all born after Flor’s disappearance, anxiously awaited the reunion. Witnessing Flor alive left Antonino in disbelief. “I kind of didn’t believe it until I saw her,” she admitted.

Antonino’s children eagerly joined in retrieving Flor. “She’s a big sister now,” Antonino joked, highlighting the family’s joy. Ratkowski affirmed Flor appeared in good health after flea and tick treatment and deworming.

Importance of Microchipping

How Flor traveled from Chicago to Gary remains unknown. Ratkowski stressed the significance of microchipping pets, noting that every stray in Evanston is checked for a chip. A microchip enables the rapid return of pets to their rightful owners. “The animal’s chance of reunion skyrockets,” Ratkowski concluded.