OH NO, I'M LOST
After a separation of six months, "Liberty," a silver labrador retriever has finally found her family again -- thanks to two Good Samaritans.
Got Kleenex handy? Your shirt sleeve will do. This story comes with "happy tears." If you need some evidence of how there really are wonderful, loving people out there -- strangers who care -- this is it.
Liberty's family was forced to move suddenly from San Diego, California to Winter Haven, Florida, and couldn't bring their beloved dog with them. They gave Liberty to someone who later lost her.
"The people who had the dog wouldn't give us any information when we would call to see how she's doing, to visit, or anything like that," said Heidi, Liberty's owner.
I GOTTA FEELIN, I AIN'T LEAVIN
The Pickrells saw the Lab wandering on a busy street in San Diego. When they opened their car door "this 92-pound dog jumped in the driver's seat and didn't want to get out," says JoAnn.
The dog-loving couple took Liberty to a vet who scanned her and found a microchip under the dog's skin. Although 10 million pets are lost every year, only about 17 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats are ever reunited with their human family says the Examiner. Only about 30 percent of them have chips implanted with family ID and data. Sadly, about half of those with chips have no valid info on file with the chipping company.
HEY CHIPPIE, I GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN
Then they picked up the phone and called Liberty's family. Young Justin said that upon hearing the news that Liberty would be theirs once again "I ran around in circles screaming."
But there was still a problem. Justin's mom Heidi, explained: "We had just spent thousands to move out of state so we were like, 'how are we going to come up with the money to get our dog back?' "
READY WITH THE SHIRT SLEEVE?
Here's where you have your shirt sleeve ready -- The Pickrells bought Liberty's plane ticket -- one flight from San Diego, to a layover in Houston, and finally arrival at Tampa International Airport to join her family -- for $417 just to reunite them all.
Damn. When it comes to reaching in the wallet and spending a significant amount of money, most of us have second thoughts about our charitableness. Wait, do I really want to be a philanthropist?
AWWW....
But, there really are kind people like John and JoAnn Pickrell out there. Strangers who will come to your aid. Hip! Hip! They give you hope and inspiration. Thanks guys.
by Sharon McEachern
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