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

It乌鸦传媒檚 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 乌鸦传媒渉ad dinner with the coyotes乌鸦传媒� in their neighbourhood.

They gave up hope.

乌鸦传媒淲e cried our eyes out,乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒渏aw-dropping乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淚t was like watching those IKEA commercials,乌鸦传媒� Van Elswyk said. 乌鸦传媒淪he just yelled 乌鸦传媒榮tart the car乌鸦传媒�. Don乌鸦传媒檛 even bother calling back.乌鸦传媒�

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

乌鸦传媒淚 could hardly breath,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒� attention, Tugger seemingly recognize them immediately.

It was, as LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson described, a 乌鸦传媒渧ery emotional乌鸦传媒� reunion.

乌鸦传媒淭hey had given up ever seeing him again so were very grateful to have him back,乌鸦传媒� she elaborated.

Cooper concurred.

乌鸦传媒淚 could never have fathomed this happening乌鸦传媒� we乌鸦传媒檙e just so grateful.乌鸦传媒�

.

A working theory

乌鸦传媒淚t would have taken him four years to walk to Fort Langley乌鸦传媒� from their home in Murrayville, Van Elswyk said, noting there乌鸦传媒檚 no way he made it there on his own.

So, after discussions with the veterinarian, they乌鸦传媒檙e convinced Tugger was snatched up 乌鸦传媒� because he was a young, unneutered male worth a 乌鸦传媒減retty penny乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淥ur theory now乌鸦传媒� we think he was in a puppy mill,乌鸦传媒� he elaborated. Cooper insisting that seems more credible given his disposition.

乌鸦传媒淗e even wants to do the cats乌鸦传媒� Anything on four legs, he thinks it乌鸦传媒檚 fair game.乌鸦传媒�

Thankfully, there will be no more breeding in Tugger乌鸦传媒檚 future, Cooper explained, anxious to correct some of the aggressive habits he乌鸦传媒檚 picked up while being away.

乌鸦传媒淲e just want to make sure that he乌鸦传媒檚 well taken care of and knows he乌鸦传媒檚 loved,乌鸦传媒� Cooper said.

乌鸦传媒淭he first week, it was like oh my god, I have a rotten kid乌鸦传媒� I was ripping out my hair乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檚 getting better and better.

乌鸦传媒淚t was like getting a problem child and getting him some therapy. He乌鸦传媒檚 actually really good. He乌鸦传媒檚 really calmed down乌鸦传媒� I think it乌鸦传媒檚 going to take a while just to get him calmed down.乌鸦传媒�

It乌鸦传媒檚 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.

乌鸦传媒淗e hasn乌鸦传媒檛 left my side乌鸦传媒� I move, he乌鸦传媒檚 there,乌鸦传媒� Cooper joked, picking him up for another cuddle.

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

Cooper乌鸦传媒檚 coworkers at a Burnaby traffic control company pooled their money 乌鸦传媒� $3,000 乌鸦传媒� 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.

乌鸦传媒淭hey got together and decided I needed another puppy because they all missed Cutie. She was just everybody乌鸦传媒檚 sweet little baby,乌鸦传媒� 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乌鸦传媒檙e excited and relieved to have Tugger home again.

It goes to show that marking a pet 乌鸦传媒� whether it be a tattoo or a microchip 乌鸦传媒� is imperative. They乌鸦传媒檇 never have Tugger back, if it hadn乌鸦传媒檛 been for the chip, a story that Van Elswyk is quick to share with almost anyone who will listen.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 great having him back. It乌鸦传媒檚 just swell,乌鸦传媒� he said, picking him up and giving him another hug and words of assurance.