Adam Scott and his daughter Amber with Darla. PICTURE: ADAM TRAFFORD
WHEN Adam Scott’s Maltese Shih-tzu got out of her yard during a storm in late 2010, he thought she’d come back soon enough.
But as the days drifted by, the chances of her returning grew slimmer and slimmer. Gradually Mr Scott lost hope.
In the first three months after Darla’s disappearance, he went to the local pound every two or three days to see if she was there, each time disappointed by the result.
Then last Monday, almost two years after he last set eyes on his beloved pet, he got an unexpected phone call.
“There was a little bit of shock there after being gone so long,” Mr Scott said.
“Obviously by that stage we started to assume the worst.”
Darla had been handed into the RSPCA shelter in Ballarat after she was found wandering the streets, and was then reunited with Mr Scott and his family.
RSPCA staff were able to find Mr Scott because Darla had been microchipped.
“She certainly remembered us. She was very, very happy, wagging her tail and carrying on,” he said.
The Ballarat animal shelter has just introduced a microchipping service in a bid to reunite more animals with their owners.
Acting shelter manager Hayley Aisbett said microchipping was a simple way to keep pets safe.
“It’s the only permanent form of identification pets can be given, and it’s micro which means its a small chip and a little payment for a life of knowing your pet is safe,” she said
The RSPCA microchipping service runs between 2pm and 3pm each Thursday and costs $35. Booking are essential.
To make an appointment call the shelter on 5334 2075.