When the Story family of Charlotte, TN rescued Petra (a Pit bull terrier mix), she was living in a flea infested kennel in the woods. She was malnourished and had never been outside of a cage.
The Storys took her home and over the next five weeks rehabilitated her into a loving, loyal family pet that slept in their young daughter’s bed every night. Petra was healthy, happy and loved. But, that all changed in October 2016 when Petra was snatched from the family’s front yard.
The Storys were devastated to lose Petra, and began a search immediately. With no real leads, the family followed several on-line lost pet sites and shelter websites, including Williamson County Animal Center (WCAC).
On March 2, 2017, volunteer pet photographer Penny Adams posted her latest batch of new adoptable pets to the WCAC Petfinder site, accessible at www.adoptwcac.org and on Facebook. The next day, WCAC received an email from Lindsey Story about Camilla, an adoptable dog on the shelter’s website that looked exactly like her family’s missing pet. Could it be Petra? It sure seemed like a perfect match, but to be sure, the Story family headed to WCAC to have an up close and personal visit with Camilla.
All it took was one look, and there was no doubt that Petra had been found. During the reunion, WCAC shelter staff and the Storys tried to piece together where Petra had been for over four months. Shelter records show that on February 12, 2017, Petra was picked up by WCAC as a stray in Fairview, TN, 24 miles from her home in Charlotte.
Shelter Director Laura Chavarria says that we may never know exactly where Petra was during those months.
“We are just happy that the Storys never gave up on Petra, and that a happy reunion took place,” she said. “We are so grateful to have volunteer photographers like Penny Adams that give their time to take wonderful photos of all our adoptable pets. Since Petra did not have a microchip, Penny’s photograph really made this reunion possible.”
Before Petra left the shelter, she received a microchip to provide easy and immediate identification in the future.
The Story family reports that when Petra returned home, she jumped right up on the family’s couch like she had never left. Their daughter Tinsley has been showering Petra with kisses and is elated to have her companion back.
To encourage happy endings like Petra’s, the Williamson County Animal Center will have a monthly public microchip and rabies clinic at the shelter, 106 Claude Yates Dr. in Franklin on Saturday, March 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. At the clinic, microchips will be $15; rabies shots $10. Dogs must be on leashes, and cats must be in carriers. Checks or cash are preferred forms of payment.
The shelter is open for adoptions Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4:00 p.m. Adoptable animals can be viewed at www.adoptwcac.org.
For more information, call (615) 790-5590 or like Williamson County Animal Center on Facebook.
