Dog Missing Since March Reunited with Owner

Thanks to a Good Samaritan and a microchip, a thankful family was reunited with their best friend “Bandit.” The happy reunion between the Garcia family and their beloved beagle took place this week at the County Animal Shelter in Carlsbad.

Bandit had vanished from the Garcia’s home in the Paradise Hills area in March of this year. In September, a Good Samaritan contacted the Department of Animal Services after finding Bandit running loose in North County’s Santa Ysabel area. How the dog ended up so far from his Paradise Hills home is a mystery.

As is the normal procedure, Animal Services staff scanned the dog for a microchip and one was detected. Staff then contacted the microchip company to obtain the owner’s information. Gil Garcia, the dog owner, was immediately notified and arrangements were made for the family to pick up the dog at the County Animal Shelter in Carlsbad.  Bandit and the Garcia family are happy to be together again after a 6 months separation.     

Bandit’s reunion with his family is a perfect example as to why the Department of Animal Services strongly encourages all pet owners to have their animals’ microchipped.