A German Shepherd, found wandering in La Jolla with a microchip registered in Italy, is now looking for a new home.
The dog named "Cane" was found by California Highway Patrol officers on June 16, limping around the Gilman Drive Park-N-Ride lot off Interstate 5. After being taken in by San Diego County Animal Control, officials discovered the dog was microchipped.
This small, but important piece of technology helped Animal Control learn an interesting fact about the pooch— the pup had the chip implanted in Latina, Italy.
Thanks to private party consisting of an Italian-speaking mother and daughter, today officials were able to contact the Veterinarian Clinic who implanted the microchip. The owner was identified as Edmond Stevens, a sailor based out of the U.S.S Mount Whitney.
A man from Maryland, whose son was stationed on the Mount Whitney, contacted the county and told them Stevens was no longer with the ship.
So, the animal services workers turned detectives then called the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Services to get contact information for Stevens.
Stevens stated that when he and his wife came back from shopping one day the dog was gone from its chain, county workers said. Stevens said he drove all around Coronado looking for the dog, according to Dan DeSousa with the Department of Animal Services.
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"Based upon his current situation (still in the military, living in an apartment and his wife expecting a child), he has decided to relinquish the dog to the Department of Animal Services," DeSousa wrote late Monday in an update to local media. "We will likely be sending the dog to one of our approved adoption partners."
The dog is currently on medication but Animal Control notes the German Shepherd is doing well.
Anyone interested on information on adopting Cane, can contact DeSousa via email at Dan.DeSousa@sdcounty.ca.gov.
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