The heart-wrenching ordeal of losing a pet is every animal lover’s worst nightmare. The distress of not knowing where your cherished furry companion has disappeared to can lead to sleepless nights and fervent hopes for their safe return.
This was the exact predicament faced by one man, Edilson, who had been tirelessly searching for his dog and best mate, Abner, since the pooch vanished in 2020.
“I spent months looking for him. I even put up posters and spoke to shelters. When I couldn’t find him, I gave up on ever getting another dog,” he shared with local media in Brazil.
However, five years later, Instagram serendipitously reunited the pair.
Unbeknownst to Edilson, Abner had been residing in a shelter after being rescued from the streets.
Due to his mobility and vision issues, the elderly dog had become a permanent resident of the shelter.
He was subsequently symbolically adopted by the ‘Invisible No More’ (Invisíveis Não Mais) project, taking on the role of its primary ‘ambassador’.
This initiative raises awareness for cats and dogs often overlooked for adoption due to age, disabilities, or injuries.
Then, unexpectedly, Edilson – hailing from Betim, in Brazil’s Greater Belo Horizonte area – stumbled upon photos of Abner on Instagram and immediately recognised his old friend.
The pictures had been snapped during a group dog walk organised by Invisíveis Não Mais and conducted by volunteer veterinary medicine students.
A project member explained the touching reunion between Edilson and his beloved pooch on Monday (27 Oct).
They said: “Abner came closer, sniffed him, and then melted into hugs and affection. It was a beautiful moment – one we’ll never forget”.
Another volunteer added: “Our goal has always been to find homes for the ‘invisible’ ones.
“Today we realised Abner was never invisible – he was just lost. We were the bridge that brought a family back together”.
In Britain, dogs and cats must be microchipped, meaning if your pet goes missing and is found, they can be scanned and your contact information will be available.
Owners can face a fine of up to £500 if their dog or cat isn’t microchipped when required.
All dogs across the UK must be microchipped and registered before they reach 8 weeks old. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks of age, including those that are kept exclusively indoors.
Your pet’s microchip must be implanted by a qualified professional. Your vet, local council or nearby rescue and rehoming centre can carry out microchipping, though fees may apply.
The microchip implanted in your pet contains a unique number that appears when your dog or cat is scanned. This number is then registered on one of several databases.
It’s your responsibility to ensure your pet’s microchip details remain current, such as when you relocate. Get in touch with the database company where your dog or cat is registered to amend any personal information.
Ultimately, this could offer a glimmer of hope to pet owners in the event their animal goes missing.