An “escape artist” dog vanished from a California home in 2021, only to be discovered more than 2,000 miles away in a Michigan animal shelter with a leash wrapped tight around his collar. The find arrived just in time for a “Christmas miracle” as the baffled owners worked to unravel his long‑gone journey back to them.
Patricia Orozco’s wirehaired Dachshund mix, Choco, slipped away from her Sacramento house that year. Although her husband and she welcomed two children in the years that followed, Orozco said she still thinks about the pup all the time, according to The Washington Post.
In early December a microchip company notified Orozco that Choco had been found in a town called Lincoln. Thinking it was Lincoln, California, she was surprised to learn the dog had wound up far north in Lincoln, Michigan—2,300 miles from Sacramento.
When Helping Paws and Claws posted the story, Orozco scrabbled to arrange a safe return for Choco, but she wasn’t sure how she would balance reuniting with her child‑bearing home, especially with a 4‑month‑old.
Cindy Walden, a former animal‑control officer and board member of Helping Paws and Claws, stepped in and began collecting donations to cover flight costs. The effort was quickly bolstered by anonymous donors, including Penny Scott, a local rescue volunteer who offered to fly with the dog, ensuring a smooth transfer, the outlet reported.
The air travel even involved a community member who redeemed stockpiled airline miles for the ticket. Scott spent extra time with Choco after a missed flight, “This dog was amazing; never whimpered, never growled at anybody. I walked him through the airport on a leash the whole time,” she told the reporter.
Orozco was relieved that Choco didn’t dart off again during the airport ordeal. “He was a sneaky door dasher. He was basically like Forrest Gump, but the dog version,” she said, recalling how the eleven‑year‑old has always been sweet and calm, despite his earlier propensity for scampering off.
Finally, the moment Choco returned to her arms was described as a “Christmas miracle.” Orozco, who has been reluctant to adopt another dog after losing her original mutt, was “beside herself” at his reunion. The pup remains “still the same, most loving, cuddly, always wants to be on‑top‑of‑you dog,” she added. To prevent another escape, she’s installed a double gate around the house.
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