California dog found near Chicago, reunited with owner via microchip

A five-year-old corgi shepherd mix that bolted from his California home during a July storm was found more than two months later on the outskirts of Chicago and returned to his owner after authorities scanned his microchip, officials said. The dog, identified by his microchip as Opie, was located on Sept. 29 and brought to DuPage County Animal Services in Wheaton by Itasca police, roughly 2,000 miles from his original home.

Opie was first seen on July 1 at a gas station in Bieber, California, about 250 miles northeast of Sacramento. His owner, Ciara Babcock, reported him missing after he ran away amid storm conditions and followed tips until sightings stopped. On Sept. 29 Itasca officers picked up a small dog wandering near the Chicago suburbs and took him to the shelter, where staff scanned a microchip and reached the registered contact, DuPage County Animal Services said.

Shelter administrator Laura Flamion said the dog had a collar that bore a different name, suggesting he may have been picked up by someone before ending up in Illinois. After shelter staff contacted the microchip company and confirmed the registration, Babcock flew to Illinois and was reunited with Opie the...