Dog missing for 9 years finally returns home: 'A miracle'

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Wandering on a windy, cold Las Vegas street, 2-year-old chihuahua mix Gizmo whimpered for his family while hunting for a way back home. Fortunately, after nine years, his loved ones never gave up hope.

On Feb. 3, 2015, Gizmo was playing in the backyard with the other dogs at the home of the Monarrez family when he broke out of the side yard gate.

“A neighbor saw them and wrangled the first two,” Judy Monarrez, Gizmo’s owner, said. “But there was another random person who wasn’t a neighbor.”

Monarrez said a woman picked up the kind and trusting Gizmo and allegedly took him from the area, all while the neighbor was pleading with her to simply return him.

“The lady said that she was going to take him to get scanned in case he’s chipped,” she said. “She wouldn't give Gizmo to my neighbor.”

The woman did not return, and Gizmo was apparently dropped off and alone amid the urban wildlife on the dangerous streets of Las Vegas.

For the first couple of days, Monarrez started to put together fliers, posters, and online posts, but it wasn’t enough. She continued for months posting on online forums and social media like Reddit. She also paid hundreds of dollars for community robocalls, but nothing worked.

For years Monarrez would periodically post online to remind the community they weren’t backing down on the search for the family dog.

“Still missing our Gizmo,” she wrote. “Not giving up!”

"A Miracle"

Nine years after Gizmo’s departure, Monarrez said she didn’t want to give up, but she felt she and her family needed to accept the possibility he wouldn’t return and grieve.

Over the strain of the last year, Monarrez started to make a “stress quilt” while her family quietly moved on with unanswered questions.

“[My mother] said that she was always sad, this weight on her heart and shoulders of never knowing what happened to him,” Monarrez said.

On Thursday, an email from pet microchip company Home Again surprised the Monarrez family.

“Gizmo is found and he’s at the animal shelter in Henderson,” the email said according to Monarrez.

Monarrez immediately called the Animal Emergency Center of Las Vegas and Henderson and couldn’t believe what she heard. After nine years, Gizmo was alive, and he was getting a bath.

“I just started bawling,” she said.

The car ride back from the animal shelter Monarrez said Gizmo couldn’t stop looking into her eyes, almost in disbelief.

“The whole way home he was just staring at me,” she said. “I feel like we were just kind of like, ‘Is this real?’”

Gizmo was heavily matted, with long nails, missing teeth, and a crooked posture. Monarrez was worried she would have to mourn him all over again.

“Now we just have to make up for this time, and it's like I'm trying to focus on getting him healthy,” she said. “We just want him to really spend the rest of his days not outside or being neglected by anybody.”

After a few days, Gizmo was looking better, but Monarrez said the medical costs are starting to add up and they are asking for the public’s help to support the recovering pup.

“We’ve already hit over $1,000 in [care costs],” she said. “I’m a teacher and money is hard to come by so I’m trying to get Gizmo the best possible care.”

At home, Gizmo receives plenty of attention from Monarrez’s mom who can’t give him pepperoni because of his missing teeth but is giving him plenty of love, wrapped warmly in Monarrez’s now completed “stress blanket.”

“Knowing that I got him back even nine years after the fact,” Monarrez said. “It's kind of – and I don’t want to sound cheesy – but it's kind of like a miracle.”