Stolen California Dog Found in No. Michigan Needs Help Getting Home

The owner of a dog that was stolen five months ago from his home in California and found recently in northern Michigan has started a GoFundMe campaign to get his four-legged friend home.

Señor Santiago, who is described by his owner as a deer-headed chihuahua-ish dog, recently ended up at the Missaukee Humane Society in Lake City after the canine was found wandering the streets by a resident, according to the owner’s GoFundMe page.

»KEEP CURRENT: » Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

How did Santiago wind up 2,000 miles? The dog was reported stolen March 20, and according to Missaukee Humane Society officials, the individual who abducted him then took him to a Los Angeles park where he sold the dog. Santiago’s new owner then moved with him to the Missaukee County area, where the furry guy eventually fled his new caretakers.

The humane society was able to contact Santiago’s rightful owner because the dog had been microchipped. But Santiago’s owner is facing “financially difficult times” and doesn’t have the money to make a reunion happen yet. That’s why the owner has created a GoFundMe page to raise the needed cash. According to the page:

If I can raise $1,600 through GoFundMe, my lil’ family will be together again. That is the amount to cover a round trip flight between LAX and TVC (Traverse City, Michigan), lodging, plus a donation to MHS for their tireless efforts in caring for animals in their communities.

As of Sunday afternoon, the owner has raised $255 in six days.

Visit the GoFundMe page to donate money to reunite Señor Santiago with his owner.

__________________________________________________________

PHOTO: Señor Santiago | CREDIT: Courtesy of Santiago’s owner’s GoFundMe page