Judith Monarrez was living with her parents in Las Vegas in 2015 when Gizmo, then 2 years old, managed to slip through a faulty gate in the backyard. For nine long years, Monarrez searched tirelessly for her missing pet.
In 2022, Monarrez, now 37, had moved into her own home, earned a master’s degree in English, and started her career in higher education. Despite these changes in her life, she never gave up on finding Gizmo.
When Monarrez received an email notification that Gizmo, now 11 years old, had been found alive, she collapsed on her kitchen floor in tears. A woman had found the dog and brought him to a vet, where his microchip was scanned, triggering the long-awaited notification.
Monarrez rushed to the animal hospital and was soon reunited with Gizmo. “It was a miracle,” she said. “I’m so glad I registered his microchip.”
Their reunion coincided with the implementation of a new Las Vegas city ordinance requiring pet owners to microchip their cats and dogs starting August 1.
Gizmo’s first week back at home has been bittersweet. The nine years apart had taken a toll on him. The 8-pound Chihuahua was now fearful of shadows, heights, and birds, and he walked with a limp. Monarrez also discovered that his eyes were severely infected and some of his teeth were missing.
“Even though he looked so different, when I looked in his eyes I knew immediately it was Gizmo,” Monarrez recalled. “As soon as I said his name, he tilted his head and couldn’t stop staring at me.”
Now, Monarrez and her family are focusing on addressing Gizmo’s health issues and showering him with all the love they had saved up over the years.