Texas Border Business
Kate and Kallisto’s journey began back in 2020 when Kate decided it was time to find a furry companion to bring along on her adventures. While enjoying a little vacation getaway in Texas, Kate, who’s from California, stopped by a pet rescue to look around.
After a few hours of interacting with potential candidates, Kate met Kallisto. Kallisto was approximately one year old but had already endured a life of suffering. Kate learned that Kallisto had been bred for multiple litters of puppies and was abandoned after she had finished serving her purpose to her previous caretaker. Their bond was immediate, and Kate adopted Kallisto, promising her she would never be left behind again.
Kallisto took some time adjusting to the unfamiliarity of her new owner. A life with her puppies and then alone in a shelter kennel was all she ever knew. She was still learning to trust humans, but Kate was determined to help Kallisto overcome her reservations. Knowing that she wanted to keep her safe during this adjustment period, Kate ensured that Kallisto was microchipped and that her information on the microchip was up to date.
One of their first adventures together was a trip to San Antonio, Texas. Kallisto seemed to enjoy all the sights and sounds of the new city. However, Kate’s worst nightmare ensued when Kallisto escaped during one of their outings. Despite adjusting well to human interaction, Kallisto became frightened in the middle of a busy crowd, broke out of her collar, and darted as fast as she could to escape the terrifying surroundings.\
Kate was absolutely heartbroken over the situation. She couldn’t believe what had happened and was devasted that she had broken her one promise to Kallisto. For the rest of her trip, Kate checked every animal shelter in the surrounding cities multiple times each day, hoping to see Kallisto waiting for her. She never saw Kallisto, and it was with a heavy heart that she had to return to California, mourning the disappearance of her companion, and forced to sit with the uncertainty of where Kallisto was and in what condition.
Kate never stopped yearning for her lost pet or dreaming of their reunion. Her dream was finally within reach when just a few days before her birthday, Kate received a phone call from Palm Valley Animal Society nearly three years after Kallisto’s disappearance. Our staff informed her that Kallisto had arrived at our facility and that Kate’s contact information popped up when Kallisto was scanned for a microchip. Before she could process the phone call or ask any questions, she began making arrangements to reclaim Kallisto. After discovering how expensive it would be and how long it would take to pay for a transport service to bring Kallisto home, Kate decided to drive down to South Texas from California herself. She told our staff that she would arrive in three days tops and to tell Kallisto she was on her way.
After nearly 20 hours of driving broken up by a few rest stops, Kate arrived at Palm Valley Animal Society and received the best birthday gift she could have wished for- being reunited with Kallisto. Had it not been for Kallisto’s microchip, this pair may have never seen one another again.
Studies show that one in three pets will become lost during their lifetime. A pet’s chances of being reunited with their family more than doubles when they are microchipped. It’s truly amazing how such a tiny piece of technology can make such a life-changing impact. Microchipping is a simple, non-surgical procedure that takes just a few seconds.
If your pet does not already have a microchip, PVAS invites you to stop by one of our facilities any time during operating hours to get your pet microchipped for just $10. Appointments are not required but completing an application beforehand will speed up the process. It might just save your pet’s life!
