Shih Tzu That Went Missing In 2011 From Owner’s Colorado Backyard, Turns Up Four Years Later In Illinois

When Kelly Booker put his Shih Tzu, Lilly, in his backyard before leaving to go watch fireworks on July 4, 2011, he never thought it would be the last time he would see his beloved pet for four years. Sadly, when Booker returned from the fireworks display that night, his Shih Tzu was gone.

Kelly said he figured she had been spooked by the loud noises of the Fourth of July celebrations and took off, but despite repeated searches, and putting flyers up around his Denver, Colorado, home, not a single trace of the Shih Tzu was ever found.

“Kids were outside popping fireworks. We went looking for her and she was gone. It was like a child that went missing. She must have jumped the fence. We put fliers up and searched, but she was just gone.”

In a turn of events that no one saw coming, and thanks to the technology of microchips, last month the Shih Tzu was found wandering the streets of a Chicago suburb by local police officers who brought the “matted, dirty and grimy” Shih Tzu to Schaumburg animal shelter. From there, she was transferred to the Almost Home Foundation — a “no kill” foundation, who were among the many shelters that took in and cared for displaced pets after Hurricane Katrina.

“We feel really sorry for dogs that have been through this kind of turmoil,” said Chuck Hanson of AHF, “the condition the dog was in when we got it showed us that it had been running for some time, loose on the streets.”

When AHF got a hold of the now nine-year-old Shih Tzu, she was in rough shape, suffering from a severe ear infection, exposure, badly matted fur, and extremely overgrown nails. While they were in the process of nursing her back to health, they discovered that the little Shih Tzu had been microchipped. They were able to get Booker’s information from the chip, and contacted him. As is to be expected, he was in absolute disbelief that after nearly four years, his Shih Tzu, who’s full name is Lilly G.F. — which stands for “girl friend” — had been found.

“Everybody in my family is pretty ecstatic. We waited for her and talked about her at least once a week. We really thought the worst. It’s like having a child that was abducted that’s been found. I never thought anything like this would happen. I thought she was gone forever.”

Booker and his 10-year-old son, Azzah, picked Lilly up at the airport in Denver on Thursday, May 7, where the little Shih Tzu was showered with love, and had “plenty of love and treats waiting for her,” when her flight finally landed, according to Kelly.

Though no one really knows how she travelled the 900 miles from Denver to Chicago, Lilly, the Shih Tzu, is now home safe, sound, and happy with her family, and has become a quasi-celebrity, with modelling gigs, appearances, and even a mini-parade being thrown in her honor.

[Image Credit: The Daily Mail]