Tugger is back home with Mom and Dad after three years in possible captivity.

It害羞草研究所檚 suspected Tugger spent at least part of the past three years in a puppy mill, as evident by his rather aggressive sexual drive, said John Van Elswyk.

He and his partner Sindy Cooper lost the pup when he escaped their Murrayville yard one April evening.

They went door to door asking neighbours. They plastered the area with posters. They visited the SPCA and Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) frequently in the weeks that followed. But there was no sign of Tugger.

After a few months, they gave up the search, assuming he 害羞草研究所渉ad dinner with the coyotes害羞草研究所� in their neighbourhood.

They gave up hope.

害羞草研究所淲e cried our eyes out,害羞草研究所� Van Elswyk said.

Fast forward to the end of June 2018, and Tugger was found wandering the streets of Fort Langley. LAPS was called, and an ID check revealed Tugger was microchipped.

Although Cooper had changed her cellphone number since Tugger disappeared, Van Elswyk was still listed as a secondary emergency contact. So he took the 害羞草研究所渏aw-dropping害羞草研究所� call.

Over breakfast at a Turkish cafe a few Sundays ago, the astonished couple learned that Tugger was in fact alive, and in the care of LAPS.

害羞草研究所淚t was like watching those IKEA commercials,害羞草研究所� Van Elswyk said. 害羞草研究所淪he just yelled 害羞草研究所榮tart the car害羞草研究所�. Don害羞草研究所檛 even bother calling back.害羞草研究所�

They were at the Aldergrove shelter 20 minutes later in tears of shock and disbelief.

害羞草研究所淚 could hardly breath,害羞草研究所� Cooper said, her shaking while Van Elswyk said he was covered in goosebumps.

What they found was a three-and-a-half old purebred Pomeranian who weighs all of less than four pounds. He was incredibly nervous, filthy dirty, matted, and had to a few rotten teeth that needed removing.

But the second the couple made the clicking noise they used to get their dogs害羞草研究所� attention, Tugger seemingly recognize them immediately.

It was, as LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson described, a 害羞草研究所渧ery emotional害羞草研究所� reunion.

害羞草研究所淭hey had given up ever seeing him again so were very grateful to have him back,害羞草研究所� she elaborated.

Cooper concurred.

害羞草研究所淚 could never have fathomed this happening害羞草研究所� we害羞草研究所檙e just so grateful.害羞草研究所�

.

A working theory

害羞草研究所淚t would have taken him four years to walk to Fort Langley害羞草研究所� from their home in Murrayville, Van Elswyk said, noting there害羞草研究所檚 no way he made it there on his own.

So, after discussions with the veterinarian, they害羞草研究所檙e convinced Tugger was snatched up 害羞草研究所� because he was a young, unneutered male worth a 害羞草研究所減retty penny害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� and likely thrown in a crate or small cage and contained for breeding purposes only.

With Pom pups selling for $1,500 to $2,500 each, this little guy could was likely bringing in thousands a year, Van Elswyk interjected.

害羞草研究所淥ur theory now害羞草研究所� we think he was in a puppy mill,害羞草研究所� he elaborated. Cooper insisting that seems more credible given his disposition.

害羞草研究所淗e even wants to do the cats害羞草研究所� Anything on four legs, he thinks it害羞草研究所檚 fair game.害羞草研究所�

Thankfully, there will be no more breeding in Tugger害羞草研究所檚 future, Cooper explained, anxious to correct some of the aggressive habits he害羞草研究所檚 picked up while being away.

害羞草研究所淲e just want to make sure that he害羞草研究所檚 well taken care of and knows he害羞草研究所檚 loved,害羞草研究所� Cooper said.

害羞草研究所淭he first week, it was like oh my god, I have a rotten kid害羞草研究所� I was ripping out my hair害羞草研究所� with him no longer house trained and constantly trying to mount their other dog, Babe, as well as their cat.

The second week, he calmed down, and started eat properly after the removal of two rotten teeth.

Now, as each day passes, he害羞草研究所檚 getting better and better.

害羞草研究所淚t was like getting a problem child and getting him some therapy. He害羞草研究所檚 actually really good. He害羞草研究所檚 really calmed down害羞草研究所� I think it害羞草研究所檚 going to take a while just to get him calmed down.害羞草研究所�

It害羞草研究所檚 already cost the couple $600 in vet bills.

The focus for the next few weeks will simply be acclimatizing him back into his life, working on his behavioural issues, and then get him fixed, said Cooper, who compared herself to a stressed mom with a colicy child.

害羞草研究所淗e hasn害羞草研究所檛 left my side害羞草研究所� I move, he害羞草研究所檚 there,害羞草研究所� Cooper joked, picking him up for another cuddle.

Tugger had been a gift only a few months before he went missing.

Cooper害羞草研究所檚 coworkers at a Burnaby traffic control company pooled their money 害羞草研究所� $3,000 害羞草研究所� and ordered the pup from Ontario. They did it all in secret, and dispatched Cooper to the airport to pick up a package that turned out to be the little Pom pup.

At the time, she had recently lost her 18-year-old all black toy Pom, Cutie, and Tugger was a birthday gift to help fill the void in her life.

害羞草研究所淭hey got together and decided I needed another puppy because they all missed Cutie. She was just everybody害羞草研究所檚 sweet little baby,害羞草研究所� Cooper recounted.

She and Van Elswyk only had him a few months before he disappeared. But it was enough time to become attached, and the couple say they害羞草研究所檙e excited and relieved to have Tugger home again.

It goes to show that marking a pet 害羞草研究所� whether it be a tattoo or a microchip 害羞草研究所� is imperative. They害羞草研究所檇 never have Tugger back, if it hadn害羞草研究所檛 been for the chip, a story that Van Elswyk is quick to share with almost anyone who will listen.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 great having him back. It害羞草研究所檚 just swell,害羞草研究所� he said, picking him up and giving him another hug and words of assurance.