After an unexpected separation that lasted nine years, a Las Vegas family was emotionally reunited with their long-lost Chihuahua mix, Gizmo. On Feb. 3, 2015, Gizmo vanished from Judy Monarrez's home when he slipped out along with the family's other dogs. While the other pets were corralled by neighbors, Gizmo was taken by an individual who claimed she would check him for a microchip but never returned, reports KTNV. Despite extensive efforts, including flyers and social media appeals, Gizmo remained missing.
Judith Monarrez, a teacher, undertook a relentless campaign to reclaim the missing part of their family, posting flyers and reaching out on Facebook groups without avail. Notification from a microchip company on a Wednesday night finally broke the long silence. “When I called, they were like, 'We have him. It’s him," Monarrez stated in an interview with KTNV. However, Gizmo returned home in less than ideal health, heavily matted and missing several teeth.
In remarks obtained by 8 News Now, Monarrez shared that initially, she made fliers and posted online in hopes of finding Gizmo. After nine years and against dwindling odds, she began to quilt what she called a "stress quilt" in the wake of the anxiety caused by his absence. The return of Gizmo, alive but with various health issues, was a relief that Monarrez compared to a "miracle."
Now home, Gizmo receives attention and care, especially from Monarrez's mother who provides the dog with love, in lieu of pepperoni which he can no longer eat due to missing teeth. Given the steep medical bills for Gizmo's recovery that have already exceeded $1,000, the family is reaching out to the community for support through a GoFundMe Page. Monarrez told KTNV, “I need to get X-rays done, blood work done, all that — and I’m a teacher, so it’s really hard to come by right now."
Highlighting the crucial role of microchipping pets, the family was able to reunite with Gizmo thanks to the information on his chip. Kelsey Pizzi, a communications manager at The Animal Foundation, emphasized in a statement to KTNV that "A microchip is permanent. It’ll have your identification just in case your pet every goes missing." A new City of Las Vegas ordinance taking effect Aug. 1 will require all dogs and cats over the age of four months to be microchipped, a move that could prevent such extended separations in the future.
