(WSVN) – A South Florida dog owner says his pet was microchipped, but that didn’t prevent him from being euthanized by Miami-Dade Animal Services. 7’s Heather Walker investigates.
Like many people, for Lazaro Gonzalez, dogs aren’t just pets, they’re family.
Lazaro Gonzalez, dog owner: “Dogs have always been there for me when I’m in trouble or when I’m doing something I shouldn’t.”
He said he always microchips his dogs to keep them safe.
But it was no use to his dog, King Odin.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “I just want answers. I want answers.”
In February 2023, a friend watched over King Odin while he cared for his father, who had cancer, Lazarus said.
Unfortunately, while Lazarus was away, the dog went missing from the garden. Lazaro called Miami-Dade police, but she was busy with her father and didn’t have much time to look for her pet.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “We had to focus on this disease, which is terminal now.”
Police told him that if King Odin ended up at an animal shelter, he would be scanned for a microchip.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “I was told they would contact the Humane Society or Animal Control to find out if the dog had been brought in. There was no response.”
A year passed with no answers until Lazarus saw a picture of King Odin on our website, WSVN.com.
7News featured a photographer taking pictures to help rescue animals be adopted.
Lazaro Gonzalez: Like, “That’s my dog!” “That’s him!”
Lazarus could not believe what he was seeing.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “I know the slanted ears, the freckles on the mouth. That’s my dog.”
He immediately called Miami-Dade Animal Services.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “When I’m on the phone, people ask me my chip number, my information, who’s on the document. I needed that to provide the details. Provide everything. Despite this, the information was refused over the phone.
Lazarus was told he had to come to the shelter here in Doral to get more information.
When he said he couldn’t do it, a volunteer personally told him the bad news.
King Odin was adopted eight months after he went missing, brought back in October of the same year, and humanely euthanized.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “It’s shocking. To me, he was my best friend. He was there when I needed him.”
Miami-Dade Animal Services was unable to contact Lazaro on his cell phone because he had gotten a new phone with a different number and forgot to update his microchip information.
Lazarus’ friend was listed as an emergency contact, with both an accurate email and phone number included. But I never heard from him.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “I want to know why there was no email. Why no phone call?”
The shelter told 7News that Lazaro told police “his dog was not registered with the county. This situation requires not only registering the pet with the county, but also microchipping, registration, and chipping.” This highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date contact details.
Lazarus is shocked that he couldn’t be there for King Odin. But he is doing everything he can to keep the dogs left behind safe.
Lazaro Gonzalez: “Her name is Buddy. She’s actually registered with Miami-Dade Animal Control and they know Buddy.”
Lazarus then made sure his contact information was updated on his microchip.
Heather Walker, 7News.
Contact 7 investigates:
305-627-CLUE
954-921-CLUE
[email protected]
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