BREAKING: A small corgi shepherd mix named Opie has been found over 2,000 miles away from his home in Bieber, California, after disappearing two months ago during a storm. The remarkable discovery was made on September 28, 2023, when Opie was turned in to the Itasca Police Department in Illinois as a lost pet.
Authorities report that the cross-country journey of this five-year-old dog remains a mystery. Laura Flamion, an administrator at DuPage County Animal Services, confirmed that police officers scanned Opie for a microchip, leading them to contact his owner. The owner, who had been searching tirelessly since July, was initially incredulous upon hearing the news. “She didn’t believe them until she got the phone number directly to the police department,” Flamion explained.
Once the verification was complete, the police transported Opie to DuPage County Animal Services on September 29. In a swift response, the owner booked the next available flight from California to Illinois, renting a car to make the long drive back. “She wasted no time,” Flamion stated. “I spoke to her, and she made it as far as South Dakota; she’s driving back.”
The timeline of events reveals that Opie likely escaped during a storm in early July, a situation that the owner believes triggered his flight. After searching locally and tracking him to a gas station, the trail went cold, leaving the owner heartbroken. Flamion suggested that it is possible someone took Opie, who was found wearing a collar with a different name.
The successful reunion underscores the importance of microchipping pets, especially when information is current. Flamion emphasized the need for pet owners to regularly check their microchip registration using the American Animal Hospital Association’s microchip registry lookup tool.
Opie’s incredible journey joins numerous stories of pets going missing only to be reunited with their owners. Last year, a two-year-old cat named Rayne Beau, who slipped out of her collar near Yellowstone National Park, was found weeks later in Northern California.
This heartwarming story serves as a reminder of the bond between pets and their owners, highlighting the importance of microchipping and vigilant care. Stay tuned for further updates on Opie’s journey home as his owner makes her way back to California.
