When Terra McCabe lost her dog Daisy three years ago in Vancouver, she thought her furry friend was gone forever.
However, earlier this month McCabe received a call she never expected.
Her dear Daisy was found safe and sound at a Winnipeg shelter.
“I was in shock,” McCabe said.
The Havanese pooch, who is now 13 years old, had been wandering the streets of Winnipeg and was found by a local resident.
“She was very lucky that there was an old tattoo associated with this dog and through a lot of work through the veterinary community, and through animal services, we were able to work as a team and get this dog back with its owner,” said Leland Gordon with Winnipeg Animal Services.
McCabe said she had planned to go on a trip to Mexico on Dec. 7 when her family missed the flight.
As she left the Vancouver International Airport, she remembers a flight attendant saying “everything happens for a reason.”
At the time, McCabe had no idea this would be the reason.
On her way home, she tried to nap, ahead of a flight that was set to leave for Mexico the next day. However, a Winnipeg phone number kept calling her.
That’s when she was told her Daisy had been found.
No one knows what Daisy has been up to since 2013.
“They have no idea… no tags and no one has gone looking for her,” McCabe said.
She lost Daisy in Vancouver after she took the dog on a trip with her to the grocery store.
“Tied her up for five or 10 minutes, came out and she wasn't there,” McCabe said.
She searched around West Vancouver and made calls to local animal services, but Daisy never turned up.
"I’ve thought about her so many times, how much I miss her, thought I’d never see her again, but now I can't believe it came true."
Since she was found, Daisy has been in the care of Winnipeg Animal Services.
A little more than a week ago, McCabe saw Daisy over a video chat phone app.
She said she recognized the dog immediately, and thinks based on a familiar tick that Daisy recognized her, as well.
“She only scratches like that when she gets excited,” McCabe added.
McCabe was reunited with Daisy at the Winnipeg International Airport on Friday.
However, in person, it took a little more time before mom and pooch recognized each other.
Daisy is a little thinner than she was three years ago, but she still has freckles on her nose and one toe nail coloured different than the rest.
"She always had that butter yellow back, and the darker ears, she just needs a good haircut.”
According to McCabe, the sweet looking lap dog has always had a sense of determination.
“I think she probably escaped whoever got her and tried to find her way home,” she said.
Animal Services said pets should be tattooed, micro chipped and licensed in case they are lost.
Daisy now has a new microchip.
