UPDATE: Dog Returned To Local Family After Missing For Six Weeks

The Latest (2/9/22):

Moose, a chihuahua mix,  is back home after spending more than six weeks missing.  The people who had Moose returned him to the rightful owners Wednesday morning, much to their surprise and pleasure.

“We were so thrilled to get the phone call last night,” said Michael Breedlove.

Breedlove says he was overcome with emotion when he saw his furry friend again.

Moose got loose while Breedlove was out of the country in December.

“We had almost given up hope that we would see him again,” said Breedlove.

But Wednesday morning, the family that had moose, returned him.

“The gentleman came. We sat down. He brought him in. I made him a cup of coffee and we had a long chat,” said Breedlove.

According to Breedlove, the man says they found Moose shortly after he got out.

They took him to Hight veterinary clinic last week where they scanned his microchip.

Dr. Bryan Hight says they contacted the company the microchip is registered to and learned Moose’s original owner died in 2019.

Dr. Hight said in a statement that veterinarians do not have the authority to seize animals presented for veterinary care. And since it appeared the owner had died, the man took the dog home.

That same microchip scan alerted the SPCA, which knew through inheritance papers that Breedlove is the rightful owner.

Breedlove says the vet’s office reached out to the family that had moose and explained the situation.

“So much outpouring from so many different people. people we did not know,” said Breedlove.

Moose is now back home. Happy and healthy.

Original Story (2/7/22):

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A desperate plea from a Charlotte man to get a family dog back after it was lost, found, but not returned.

“He is most certainly our family member,” said Michael Breedlove.

He inherited the dog named Moose when the dog’s owner passed away in 2019.

“He’s very personable, he’s very kind,” said Breedlove.

Since then, the bond has grown between Breedlove and his pet. But in December, while out of the country, Moose got loose from the house and was lost.

“I was out of the country and just devastated. We all were,” said Breedlove.

They immediately reported him missing, notified shelters, posted on social media and searched for Moose.

And then, this past week, his microchip was scanned into the system.

“There is a lot of joy in learning somebody found him, there is a lot of joy in knowing he was at the vet,” said Breedlove.

But Moose hasn’t been returned.

The dog was scanned by the Hight Vet clinic near UNC Charlotte. According to Dr. Bryan Hight, they contacted the company the microchip was registered to.

“Petlink reported to us that the dog’s microchip was registered to Sharon Hedgecough under the name Primus. They gave us the contact phone number. When we called the phone number, it was not in service. We researched and a Sharon Hedgecough in Charlotte NC died March 22, 2019,” wrote Dr. Hight in an email to WCCB.

Dr. Hight goes on to say that “veterinarians do not have the authority to seize animals presented for Veterinary care. Since the previous owner was apparently deceased, with a number not in service, and the person who found the dog had assumed the responsibility for his care, they took the dog home.”

“My understanding is that when you find an animal in Mecklenburg county or in the state, you’re supposed to make every effort in 24 hours to report it to animal control,” said Alex Wilson, the President of the Greater Charlotte SPCA.

Wilson says that was not done. She got in contact with the people who have Moose, and the conversation didn’t go well.

“Said basically I have the dog and, used a very bad word, blank you, and hung up,” explained Wilson.

“I appreciate these people for taking care of him, if that’s what they have done. I understand how they fell in love with him. I do. But he’s not their animal. He’s not their dog. We’ve done everything we can to find him,” said Breedlove.

Now, Breedlove, with few options, is begging for his best friend back.

“Please. Please bring home our dog. We miss him very much,” said Breedlove.

Wilson filed a police report alleging stolen property. The police sent a note saying the matter will have to be handled in small claims court.

The people who have the dog and Hight Vet were unable to be reached when called.