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

ItB次元官网网址檚 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 B次元官网网址渉ad dinner with the coyotesB次元官网网址� in their neighbourhood.

They gave up hope.

B次元官网网址淲e cried our eyes out,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渏aw-droppingB次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚t was like watching those IKEA commercials,B次元官网网址� Van Elswyk said. B次元官网网址淪he just yelled B次元官网网址榮tart the carB次元官网网址�. DonB次元官网网址檛 even bother calling back.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 could hardly breath,B次元官网网址� 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 dogsB次元官网网址� attention, Tugger seemingly recognize them immediately.

It was, as LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson described, a B次元官网网址渧ery emotionalB次元官网网址� reunion.

B次元官网网址淭hey had given up ever seeing him again so were very grateful to have him back,B次元官网网址� she elaborated.

Cooper concurred.

B次元官网网址淚 could never have fathomed this happeningB次元官网网址� weB次元官网网址檙e just so grateful.B次元官网网址�

.

A working theory

B次元官网网址淚t would have taken him four years to walk to Fort LangleyB次元官网网址� from their home in Murrayville, Van Elswyk said, noting thereB次元官网网址檚 no way he made it there on his own.

So, after discussions with the veterinarian, theyB次元官网网址檙e convinced Tugger was snatched up B次元官网网址� because he was a young, unneutered male worth a B次元官网网址減retty pennyB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淥ur theory nowB次元官网网址� we think he was in a puppy mill,B次元官网网址� he elaborated. Cooper insisting that seems more credible given his disposition.

B次元官网网址淗e even wants to do the catsB次元官网网址� Anything on four legs, he thinks itB次元官网网址檚 fair game.B次元官网网址�

Thankfully, there will be no more breeding in TuggerB次元官网网址檚 future, Cooper explained, anxious to correct some of the aggressive habits heB次元官网网址檚 picked up while being away.

B次元官网网址淲e just want to make sure that heB次元官网网址檚 well taken care of and knows heB次元官网网址檚 loved,B次元官网网址� Cooper said.

B次元官网网址淭he first week, it was like oh my god, I have a rotten kidB次元官网网址� I was ripping out my hairB次元官网网址� 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, heB次元官网网址檚 getting better and better.

B次元官网网址淚t was like getting a problem child and getting him some therapy. HeB次元官网网址檚 actually really good. HeB次元官网网址檚 really calmed downB次元官网网址� I think itB次元官网网址檚 going to take a while just to get him calmed down.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淗e hasnB次元官网网址檛 left my sideB次元官网网址� I move, heB次元官网网址檚 there,B次元官网网址� Cooper joked, picking him up for another cuddle.

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

CooperB次元官网网址檚 coworkers at a Burnaby traffic control company pooled their money B次元官网网址� $3,000 B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淭hey got together and decided I needed another puppy because they all missed Cutie. She was just everybodyB次元官网网址檚 sweet little baby,B次元官网网址� 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 theyB次元官网网址檙e excited and relieved to have Tugger home again.

It goes to show that marking a pet B次元官网网址� whether it be a tattoo or a microchip B次元官网网址� is imperative. TheyB次元官网网址檇 never have Tugger back, if it hadnB次元官网网址檛 been for the chip, a story that Van Elswyk is quick to share with almost anyone who will listen.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great having him back. ItB次元官网网址檚 just swell,B次元官网网址� he said, picking him up and giving him another hug and words of assurance.