Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Microchip Helps Locate Owner of Dog Lost 350 Miles From Home

Aired April 24, 2001 - 09:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: "Technology to the rescue": That sums up our next story.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. It's the case of the missing mutt and the microchip.

We get the details now from reporter Kristen Simoes of affiliate KCRA, in Sacramento.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KRISTEN SIMOES, KCRA REPORTER (voice-over): He's one lucky dog, this D-O-G named D-O-G, who spent the past week in the place dogs like least, the city animal shelter. But thanks to technology, officers found out this hound has a home.

CINDY SCHICK, ANIMAL SERVICE OFFICER: As soon as Les Rowe scanned it with one of our scanners, a microchip number popped up. And we said, great, we can find the owner.

SIMOES: It turns out D-O-G had a microchip tracking device that traced him back to his owner, truck driver Jim Stoddard, who says his buddy hopped out in Grants Pass, Oregon, 350 miles from Manteca.

JIM STODDARD, DOG OWNER: It's amazing that he made it that far and they still found out where he belongs. That's the great thing about the microchip.

SIMOES: Shelter officials were so excited by the match they volunteered to drive D-O-G from Manteca to Sacramento, where a very anxious owner was waiting.

STODDARD: D-O-G, come here. What's the matter? Poor buddy, yes, I missed you.

SIMOES: The reunion Stoddard credits to technology and the tiny chip that was placed in his dog's back by Klamath Humane Society before he was adopted. One scan of this wand and D-O-G's history was read.

STODDARD: Best idea in the world, ain't it, buddy?

SIMOES: A modern miracle for this man and mutt, who share 3,500 lonely miles a week on the roads, and for shelter operators... LES ROWE, MANTECA ANIMAL SHELTER: I thought all of this was so cool. This is so cool because we've been doing this for three years, and we've already rescued five dogs by doing it and sending them home. Three of them have been out of state.

STODDARD: Thanks a lot, guys. Thank you.

SIMOES: And with that, a happy man has his D-O-G back H-O-M-E, where he belongs.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: There he is.

HARRIS: There he goes.

That was Kristen Simoes reporting for our affiliate KCRA, in Sacramento. We thank you for that report.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com