European Pet Network reunites dog with owner
Image: Emile back home with Duplo
A dog has been reunited with its owner thanks to his microchip, after a 894 mile round trip across international borders.
Emile, a 12-year-old labrador originally from Liverpool, was in France when he went missing just before Christmas. His owner, Matthew Hayes, was beyond devastated at the thought of losing his dog.
Mr Hayes, who is paralysed from the waist down after a serious accident several years ago, said he initially thought Emile had suffered a heart attack.
"The idea of him dying in the cold, nearby, was terrible," he explained.
"[Emile] has a son, Duplo, whom I also treasure, but my bond with Emile is second-to-none. Devastated doesn't come close to the feeling I felt before Christmas."
However, luck changed when Emile was spotted on a busy motorway by an Italian truck driver, more than 30 miles from where he went missing. Due to work commitments, the truck driver had too little time to visit a vet in France but, instead, took the dog back to Verona in Italy.
The truck driver and vet showed commitment in tracing the dog's microchip, rather than simply rehoming him in Italty, despite the dog not being on the French database. The pair eventually discovered that he was registered on the UK's Petlog database, which was visible via the European Pet Network (EPN).
Petlog immediately contacted Mr Hayes to tell him the good news.
"I have rarely received such joyous news as the letter from Petlog received on 11th January," he said. "Miracles do happen, and the microchip was obviously key. The Italians who looked after him and found all the information were really fantastic."
Celia Walsom, executive of Petlog, commented: “Emile was picked up before Christmas and Petlog has been involved since 7th January in arranging for Emile to be reunited with Matthew.
"Reuniting a pet and its owner across international borders is not an easy task, and without a microchip and the European Pet Network it would be near impossible, but we are delighted we could help in this case."
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
