Missing for Two Months, Dog Found 3,000 km Away From Home

A Disappearance in the Storm

In July 2025, Opie, a 5-year-old corgi-shepherd cross, bolted from his home in Bieber, California, during a violent storm. Despite immediate searches, there was no trace of him. Weeks later, a glimmer of hope appeared when his microchip identified him at a California gas station—but the trail soon went cold.

His family feared the worst. Then, two months later, the incredible happened: Opie was found alive and well in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois—about 3,200 km from where his journey began.

From California to Illinois

Rescued as a stray, Opie was taken in by a local shelter near Chicago and later transferred to the Itasca Police Department as a lost dog. Officers scanned his microchip and contacted his family back in California.

At first, his owner couldn’t believe it. “She thought it was a joke,” said Laura Flamion, an administrator at the shelter. “It wasn’t until she got the direct phone number of the police department that she realized it was true.”

The Reunion

Opie’s owner immediately booked a flight and arrived in Illinois on October 1 to pick him up. After two months of uncertainty, the joyful reunion marked the end of an extraordinary odyssey.

As for how he made the journey? His family suspects that someone may have picked him up along the way and transported him east. The exact details of his trek remain a mystery.

A Lesson in Microchip Safety

This story highlights the crucial role of microchips in reuniting lost pets with their families. Without his chip, Opie might never have made it back home. His owner used the experience to remind other pet parents: always keep microchip details up to date—it could make the difference between heartbreak and reunion.