Bill O’Brien Photo
L-R Don Hemmer, from Millpond Veterinary Hospital, Casper, Sherwin, Jerriellyz and Janet
One minute Casper the young Pit Bull puppy is playing with his family and the next minute he is nowhere to be found. Everyone in the Sanchez family is now in a panic looking for the cute but adventurous young pup.
Sherwin Sanchez, his wife, Janet, and their daughter Jarriellyz were at a relative’s house close to Peat Meadow Park near the Annex section of New Haven one recent Friday evening when 3- month- old Casper decided it was time for a run. So off he went.
With Permission
“We were not aware he was gone until my husband asked, “‘Where’s Casper? We all looked at each other,” Janet Sanchez said, recounting the event. “Then we jumped in our car and began driving all around the area looking for him and we couldn’t find him. We were heartbroken and feared he was lost or stolen.” The family quickly created a missing puppy poster.
The next morning the family went back to the park and started asking people if they had seen their all-white puppy. They made up a flyer with photos of Casper that they handed out.
New Haven Couple Take Pup to Branford
Then fate intervened.
They met a gentleman in the park who told them that a man and his wife were in the neighborhood earlier that morning with the dog, asking if he knew who the owner was. He said he didn’t. They told the gentlemen they were going to bring him to the Branford Animal Shelter. The Branford shelter is known as a “no-kill shelter.” Click here to read about that.
Bill O’Brien Photo
After hearing the latest news about their puppy, the family jumped in their car and headed to the Cosgrove Animal Shelter at 749 E Main St, off exit 56. It was the day of the shelter’s annual “Woofstock” festival and the shelter was closed. But on the door was a sign indicating the staff would be on the Branford Green at Woofstock.
The Sanchez family headed to the Branford Green.
There, Shelter Director Laura Burban said the Sanchez family found her and inquired about Casper. Staff members said the dog was brought in early Saturday morning and they would go back and get him for the family.
Off the staff went to the shelter.
Before long a staff member delivered little Casper to the Green where the family awaited him. They were reunited amid tears of joy and hugs. Everyone was thrilled. As a result of a series of seemingly unrelated encounters, Casper was back with his family within hours of arriving in Branford.
Bill O’Brien Photo
Laura Burban, Director of Cosgrove Animal Shelter
Burban said, “We’re flattered people think of us in situations like this. They say they hear good things about us and don’t think twice about bringing lost or unwanted pets to us. We are all very happy this story tuned out the way it did.”
Before Casper said adieu to Branford, he made one last side trip. He was taken to the tent of the Millpond Veterinary Hospital, a sponsor of Woofstock. There he had a microchip implanted with a permanent pet ID on it. Once scanned the microchip helps reunite family and dog.
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