WSVN — Many of us put microchips in our pets in case they get lost or stolen. We think it will help get our animal back, but one pet owner says she's in a battle with a microchip company who won't tell her where her dog is. Here's 7's Patrick Fraser with tonight's Help Me Howard.
Elayna Fenelon: "A Yorkie-Poo is a mix between a Yorkie and a poodle."
Elayna is talking about her little dog Monte, and his big, bold personality.
Elayna Fenelon: "You cannot overlook him, you cannot not talk to him or not show him attention, because he will demand it."
Patrick Fraser: "He's spoiled, in other words."
Elayna Fenelon: "Very spoiled. My fault, it's OK."
Elayna loves Monte and took great care of him, even getting a microchip in case he ever got lost or stolen. And then one day, he disappeared.
Elayna Fenelon: "He was outside, and when we realized he was not in the yard or anything, we went looking for him. We searched every block, and he was nowhere to be found."
Elayna immediately notified the chip company that Monte was missing. She kept looking for him, and then three months later, came home to a voice mail from the company.
Elayna Fenelon: "Someone is trying to change ownership, and we want you to verify that so that we can change the ownership."
Elayna was excited.
Elayna Fenelon: "My first thought was, 'Monte's coming.' I just knew he was coming because they know where he is."
She then called the chip company.
Patrick Fraser: "Did you ask them for the name and address of the person who has your dog?"
Elayna Fenelon: "Yeah, and they told me they cannot give me that information."
Elayna was told she needed to call the police and that Home Again, the microchip company, would give the officer the information. She went to the Miami Police Department, and an officer made the call.
Elayna Fenelon: "And when he called them back, they told him that, in order for me to get any information of where my dog is, I would need a subpoena. I would need to subpoena, or order the company to give me the information."
Elayna was stunned.
Elayna Fenelon: "I want them to tell me where my dog is. I want them to give me whatever information that they have, so the fact that they are prolonging him not being home is very frustrating. It's annoying."
You paid to have a microchip placed in your pet to tell you where they are if they're lost of stolen. So, Howard, a simple question: Can the company refuse to tell you?
Howard Finkelstein: "Legally, yes, they can refuse to tell you. However, if you are in the business of helping pet owners find their animals, you'd better have a good reason to refuse to divulge the pet's location, or it can hurt their business."
I first contacted Home Again. They told me they do not require a subpoena to release information, but they do require legal documentation from a third party like the police.
They told me they don't turn over information like an address to the pet's registered owner because, "We have no knowledge of the circumstances of a situation. For example, the pet could be part of a divorce or some other dispute."
I was told to have Miami Police contact Home Again, again. The officer did what Home Again wanted, and the company told the Miami Police Department where Monte was located. He was in Connecticut.
Miami Police called their counterparts there. An officer went to the home, where the residents said they had never seen the dog, and the officer reported he saw no sign of a dog at the home. There was nothing more the police could do.
Late last week, Elayna says Home Again told her that Monte was now in Florida, and they will give that address to Miami Police. Elayna hopes this time Monte is found, because she will never give up looking for her dog.
Elayna Fenelon: "No, that's part of my family, and as long as I get any kind of leads, I am going to follow up on those leads."
Patrick Fraser: "And why didn't Home Again give the Miami Police the location of Monte when an officer called back in March. Their response? They told the officer they needed legal documentation like a police report, but they didn't get that information in March. After we called, they got what they needed. As for Monte, someone in South Florida sent him to Connecticut. Maybe you know who that person is; maybe you know where the dog is. If so, let us know. Elayna would be very, very happy to get him back."
A "ruff" problem left you with a chip on your shoulder? Need a dog-gone solution? Contact us. We are like your pet; we are always here, always ready to pay attention to you.
With this Help Me Howard, I'm Patrick Fraser, 7News.
CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
E-mail: helpmeHoward@wsvn.com (please include your contact phone number when e-mailing)
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
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