Rightful Owner Contacted, Thanks to a Microchip
FRIDAY, Dec. 19, 2014 – The conversation between Riverside County Animal Services and a dog's owner went something like this:
Us: "We've got your dog."
Owner: "That's great!"
Us: "Uh, you're not going to recognize her."
After all, Coco the 8-month-old pit bull had been dyed black. She was far removed from her beautiful, reddish-brown coat that also featured some white markings on her neck, belly and paws. The dye job made shelter employees do a double take. That's because the dog had a microchip implant and, after the scanner was swiped and the shelter worker heard the scanner's beep, the microchip number was supposed to be matched with a dog of a different color.
That microchip, in fact, was implanted by none other than Riverside County Animal Services. Coco had been adopted by Christopher Ingrassi and Heather Lowry on Oct. 29 from the county's San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus.
So, what the heck? Why was Coco now black?
"We believe it was an act of deception," Riverside County Field & Shelter Services Deputy Director Frank Corvino said. "They dye job is not very good. But it would work if someone's looking for their missing, reddish-brown dog."
Coco's true owners said they were thrilled to get her home. She went missing on Thanksgiving and Heather Lowry said she believes the dog was actually stolen from their yard. Coco is a very friendly, sweet dog. She must have escaped from the thief's property. (She was found as a stray by a Ramona Humane Society animal control officer near her rightful home.)
Ms. Lowry said she thinks Coco's dye job story is a crazy one.
"When I was called, I didn't believe it," Ms. Lowry said. "I was shocked. I didn't think someone would go so far as to dying a dog's fur to keep them. I don't think that person knew that she was microchipped."
She said she is sharing a piece of advice with every pet owner she knows: "I am telling them, 'Make sure your dogs are microchipped,' " she said.
