Ellie, a 16-year-old teacup Yorkie belonging to Becky Jones, vanished from outside Jones's Warren driveway on Oct. 12 and reappeared days later at an emergency veterinary clinic with a wound that looked like a chemical burn. The tiny dog arrived with dangerously low vital signs, but 11 days after she disappeared, she is recovering and may even be headed home.
A Mysterious Handoff at the Clinic
According to the Detroit Free Press, Ellie was dropped off at an emergency veterinary clinic several days after she disappeared from the Warren driveway. A worker at the veterinary office told Local 4 that a woman walked in and handed over the dog, saying she had found Ellie after the animal had been hit, as reported by ClickOnDetroit. Staff checked Ellie for a microchip, identified her, and contacted her owners.
The worker described Ellie's injuries as burns, per the same account. Clinic staff are the ones who first connected the dots between the dog in front of them and the Jones family searching for their missing pet.
An Unusual Wound
Ellie arrived with a wound that appeared to be a chemical burn.
Ellie had lost about one pound from her usual 5-to-6-pound weight, weighing about 4 to 5 pounds by the time she reached the Warren clinic. She was treated with sugar supplements, heat support and wound care, and the article notes she responded quickly to the supportive treatment.
Ongoing Recovery in Oakland County
Ellie was later taken to Oakland Veterinary Referral Services, where she continued to receive treatment, per ClickOnDetroit. The Free Press reported that Ellie is recovering in Oakland County and has since climbed back up to 5.7 pounds, a sign her body is bouncing back from the ordeal.
The financial toll of Ellie's care has been steep. The cost of her total treatment could reach $16,000, and nearly $6,000 had been raised through a GoFundMe set up on her behalf, according to the Free Press.
Investigation Remains Open
The Warren Police Department said the case remains under investigation, the same clickondetroit.com report noted. Anyone with information was asked to contact Detective Palmer or Warren police at 586-574-4841.
No arrest or suspect has been identified in connection with Ellie's disappearance, and investigators have not said what chemical may have caused her burns. Under Michigan law, stealing or confining and secreting a dog licensed under state statute is a misdemeanor unless legally authorized, according to an excerpt of the Michigan Legislature's code, though it remains unclear whether any such violation applies to this case.
