Las Vegas missing dog found after 9 years, family is stunned

The little dog had been found in Henderson, Nevada, and was taken to an emergency veterinary clinic.

Gizmo, seen here, was finally located on July 17, 2024, more than nine years after he went missing. (Judith Monarrez via AP)

Once at the vet, they scanned his microchip, which signaled to Monarrez that her cherished dog had been located.

“A woman had brought him to the Animal Emergency Center in Henderson,” Monarrez shared on the “Bring Gizmo Home” Facebook page.

“According to them, the woman mentioned that she had been trying to catch him for two months, but he was in very poor condition, with matted fur and overgrown, curled nails,” she continued.

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Monarrez noted that Gizmo was struggling to walk and may have sustained neck fractures, as she mentioned on Facebook.

Now that they were finally back together, Monarrez expressed to the Associated Press that it felt like “a miracle” to have her dog home and she was “so grateful [she] registered his microchip.”

Gizmo went missing from Las Vegas in 2015 and was brought to an emergency vet in nearby Henderson after more than nine years. (iStock)

“Even though he looked very different, I recognized him immediately when I looked into his eyes,” Monarrez shared with the Associated Press.

“As soon as I called his name, he tilted his head and couldn’t stop gazing at me.”

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Gizmo’s years apart from Monarrez were undoubtedly troublesome.

An online fundraising campaign initiated by Monarrez noted that her dog was found in “extremely poor condition” suffering from “multiple infections” and dental issues.

“I have no idea what Gizmo endured during all those years apart from us.”

“We were all a bit taken aback by his condition. I can’t comprehend what Gizmo went through while being separated from us, but I’m just overjoyed he’s home, and we can assist him in healing,” Monarrez wrote on her GoFundMe page, which has raised over double its $4,000 target.

In a July 23 update, Monarrez reported that Gizmo is on the mend and doing well.

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“He’s been adjusting around the house and cuddling with his big brother Benji,” she shared. “He found his voice again and actually barked at the doorbell for the first time since being home.”

“His eye infection appears to be responding positively to the treatment.”

Additionally, “his eye infection seems to be responding well to the treatment, and he will have a follow-up in a week,” she noted.

For now, Monarrez and her family expressed to the Associated Press that they will be “showering [Gizmo] with all the love we had waiting for him all those years.”

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Fox News Digital reached out to Monarrez for further updates on Gizmo’s recovery.

Microchips are embedded under the pet’s skin and activated when scanned at a veterinarian’s office. (iStock)

As of August 1, all cats and dogs in Las Vegas over 4 months old are required to have a microchip, according to the AP.

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“A microchip is a tiny electronic chip encased in a glass cylinder, roughly the size of a grain of rice,” reads the website of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Microchips in pets activate upon scanning and do not require batteries. They hold information regarding the pet owner and contact details.

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Neglecting to microchip a pet in Las Vegas “will lead to a misdemeanor and, if convicted, can result in a fine of up to $1,000, incarceration for up to six months, or both,” according to the official city website.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.