Buckeye’s Summer Escape

REUNITED: In a few minutes

Thanks to no rain and the intense summer heat, Buckeye the Dachshund Mix found a way to dig up the dry yard and escape! With the help of a microchip enrolled with AKC Reunite, Buckeye could be AKC Reunited!

“It had been hot typical Midwest summer where the rains have stayed away for weeks now, and the ground was becoming hard,” recalled Eddie, Buckeye’s owner. “Buckeye took advantage of the summer’s morning sun as he was lying out in the backyard [tethered to a stake] enjoying the peace and quiet.”

Although he was secured, a smell, sound, or movement of a small animal enticed Buckeye to jolt, pulling his lead and stake clear out of the dry earth! “We may never know [what caused him to run] but the Dachshund blood ran thick through his veins all of a sudden,” said Eddie. “He jumped into action with enough momentum to pull the stake from the dry ground as he gave chase to his new excitement.”

Unfortunately, this quick action went unnoticed by his family, who was inside, when Buckeye took off! Thankfully, he was quickly spotted in the area, largely due to the scene and commotion.

“Buckeye was found just moments [after] getting the stake from the ground. [He was] running down the street with a tie out chain bouncing behind him, causing him to run just a little more,” said Eddie. “A person in a car passing by saw his distress and stopped to assist and Buckeye, who was more then happy to greet his new friend and have the terror or the steel spike nipping at his heels to be over!”

While Buckeye did have a collar tag, it only had a phone number. So, the good Samaritan took an extra step of protection, and drove Buckeye to a nearby veterinary office — which turned out to be Buckeye’s veterinarian as well!

“Meanwhile, while I was in the office, a toll free number began to call which I let go to voicemail. Then, it called again, but was cut short as I received another incoming call from my pets Animal Care Center. Before I could get up from my desk to answer the phone, the toll free number once again called and this time I answered. It was a very pleasant and genuine caring gentleman who began to speak letting me know Buckeye had been located and was in good health… while this was great news, I didn’t know he was even missing.”

Eddie immediately called his wife and discovered she too had received the same message from AKC Reunite! And after a quick call to the veterinary clinic, they confirmed Buckeye was there and safe, along with his lead. Within the hour, Buckeye was back home and the steel spike was back in the ground!

“To know Buckeye was missing brought a drop in the heart rate, but listening to someone telling you he has been found in the same breath and who was wanting to help [reunite] a missing pet with their family was exactly what I needed. We’re all much happier to find [he has] no injuries and that they only had to make one phone call for a reunification. I would highly recommend having your pets microchipped and registered!”