Vango, an Australian shepherd with a brilliant streak, might have just played a crucial role in his own recovery. The saga began when Vango entered Au Royaume des Animaux, a pet store in Gatineau, Quebec, with a couple known for buying cat food.
The dog informs the store owners that he is not belong to the couple he arrived with and has been stolen
Australian shepherd leads his own rescue mission
Yves Jodoin, a canine trainer working at the store, noticed Vango’s frantic behavior. The dog was barking incessantly, nudging Jodoin, and clearly seeking his attention. Jodoin’s suspicions were immediately aroused. The couple’s lack of knowledge about Vango’s basic details, like his age, neutering status, preferred food, and purchase price, raised red flags.
“They were evasive,” Jodoin recounted, describing how he offered Vango treats, but the barking continued.
Social media saves the day
A stroke of genius from a coworker led to a breakthrough. They checked social media for reports of missing pets, and there it was – a picture of Vango, reported stolen just a few hours earlier from his Buckingham, Quebec home. The realization struck Jodoin – he knew this dog! Vango was one of the puppies he’d trained.
“Vango, come!” Jodoin called out, and the dog’s response was jubilant. He jumped excitedly, his barks seemingly conveying, “This isn’t who they say I am!”
Social media saves the day
A fabricated story and a determined owner
The couple fabricated a story about finding Vango in the woods. The woman claimed she needed the dog as an emotional support animal due to health issues and couldn’t afford to buy and train one. Jodoin, surrounded by witnesses, persuaded them to surrender Vango. He then contacted the overjoyed owner, Josée Francoeur.
A fabricated story and a determined owner
Tears of relief and a search that almost ended in despair
Francoeur’s voice cracked with emotion as she described receiving Jodoin’s call. Letting Vango out for a bathroom break in their fenced yard earlier that day, she had watched in horror as he vanished. Without a microchip, fear gnawed at her. “Could someone have taken him?” she thought, disbelief mingling with panic.
Francoeur wasted no time. She posted missing pet alerts on social media and the local SPCA website. Tears streamed down her face as she searched her neighborhood, desperately asking everyone if they’d seen Vango. A concerned police officer even filed a missing dog report. Just as hope dwindled, her phone rang. Relief washed over her as she learned of Vango’s safekeeping.
“If they hadn’t gone to that pet store,” Francoeur stated, her voice thick with gratitude, “I would have lost my dog forever.”
Tears of relief and a search that almost ended in despair
Seeking Justice and a call for microchipping
Francoeur reported the couple to the police, determined to hold them accountable. “I don’t want to judge them,” she said, “but they took my dog. This is a cautionary tale for everyone.” Gatineau police, however, explained the need for evidence proving the couple’s deliberate theft rather than accidentally finding the dog.
The SPCA de L’Outaouais, where the couple attempted to register Vango under a different name, used this incident to highlight the importance of microchipping pets. Francoeur, who had already scheduled Vango’s microchipping appointment, echoed this message. “This whole ordeal could have been avoided,” she emphasized.
Vango’s story serves as a heartwarming testament to the deep bond between a dog and its owner, a reminder of the power of social media in reuniting lost pets, and a crucial call to action for responsible pet ownership through microchipping.
