A 10-year-old Australian shepherd named Rio Jr. has been safely reunited with his family after disappearing from his home near Tulsa, Oklahoma, and being discovered more than 1,000 miles away in North Carolina, according to ABC News.
Rio’s guardian said that the longtime escape artist — who opens doors and gates and locates vulnerable spots beneath the fence around their property — frequents several places in the area, including a gas station and Dollar General.
It was in late July when Rio escaped again — but this time, he didn’t return home and couldn’t be found. During an extensive search, it came to light that Rio had been spotted at the gas station, where an attendant believed a customer had picked him up.
For nearly two weeks, Rio’s guardian had no idea where he was. Then, she received a phone call that left her stunned.
Rio had been found by a good Samaritan and brought to a shelter in Greensboro, North Carolina. Fortunately, his microchip allowed shelter staff to identify him and contact his guardian with the wonderful news that her boy was safe.
Shortly after receiving the call, she booked the first available flight to North Carolina, where she and Rio shared an emotional reunion before beginning the long drive home together.
“We’ll never probably know what he went through over those two weeks, but I’m happy to see the smiles back on his face,” Rio’s guardian said.
Lady Freethinker is grateful that Rio is safely back home with his family and encourages all guardians to microchip their animal companions and keep the registration information current so lost animals can be reunited with their families as quickly as possible.
