'Van Life' Campers Help Reunite Tiny Dog With His Owner Thanks to Microchip

No matter where in the world you go or what you do, your four-legged friend will be right by your side. Dogs' loyalty is one quality that makes them the most popular pet in America, but accidents can happen, even to the most careful pet owners. It's every dog parent's worst nightmare to realize their buddy is missing, but that's why taking preventative measures--like investing in a microchip and ID tag for your dog--is so important.

One Arizona dog owner learned that lesson in the most difficult way after his small dog, Echo, got lost from their camp. The pup was missing deep in the heart of coyote territory, but luckily, he spotted hiker and 'van life' TikToker Vanessa Keating while she was out for a walk. He took a chance and approached the woman, who turned out to be no stranger to rescuing dogs.

OMG! Echo really is a tiny dog, and I don't want to know what would've happened if a coyote had spotted him before Vanessa did. He seemed so happy to be rescued, and he was incredibly grateful to have that cactus plucked out of his leg!

Related: Woman Reunites With Her Dog After a Month Apart in Heartwarming Video

Of course, his journey was far from over. Vanessa took the small dog to the vet to check for a microchip, and everyone was surprised that he actually had one. Even so--there was still a problem.

Did you know that you have to update your dog's microchip when your address or contact information changes? Echo's owner didn't! In fact, he may have never registered the microchip at all, so the only contact that came up was a veterinarian in Phoenix--miles away. It took several phone calls and lots of jumping through hoops, but Echo and his owner got the happy ending that every lost dog dreams of.

Phew! I can only imagine this dog owner's relief when he saw his buddy again. Echo wasted no time running into his arms, and Vanessa wasted no time educating a pet parent about microchips.

Microchips Have To Be Registered

If you rescue a dog from a shelter, your dog will likely be microchipped. In many places, this is the law for adopting a dog, though the shelter-led process isn't always the most educational for dog owners. What they don't always tell you is that you have to register your dog's microchip to your address and phone number! If you move, you'll need to update it, too. This way, your dog will always be able to get back to you if they get lost--just like Echo! This tiny dog was so lucky that Vanessa was willing to work so hard to get in contact with his owner because a properly registered microchip would make it much easier!

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