A
SSOCIATED
N
EWSPAPERS OF
M
ICHIGAN
P
AGE
2
December 31, 2015
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Happy homecoming
Family celebrates return of lost dog
Only Rexxn knows how he spent the
past three years, and he is certainly not
talking.
Earlier this month, Romulus resident
DonnaWreford, found the small Yorkshire
Terrier wandering around outside her
home. After getting assurances from
neighbors that the dog was not theirs, she
delivered him to the Romulus Animal
Shelter.
Animal shelter staff members evaluat-
ed the dog upon intake and, with the uti-
lization of an electronic wand, discovered
the canine had a microchip implant that
revealed there was owner information on
filewith the AmericanKennel Club (AKC).
Animal shelter staff members then con-
tacted the AKC who confirmed that the
dog was reported missing by a family in
Columbus, Ohio more than three years
ago.
Representatives from the AKC made
contact with the owners, Darrin and Ta-
Shina Green who were still living in
Columbus, advising them to contact the
Romulus Animal Shelter for some good
news regarding their lost dog.
The Green family immediately contact-
ed the shelter and learned that their long-
lost family pet, Rexxn, had been found
about 200miles northof his home.
Darrin Green immediately drove the
three and a half hours from Columbus,
arriving at the Animal shelter just prior to
closing time the same day he learned
where his lost dog hadbeen found. Shelter
employees reunited Rexxn with his
speechless and teary-eyed owner.
“After three years I never thought I
would see my dog again. This truly is the
best Christmas ever for our family,” said
Ta-ShinaGreen.
“When Rexxn came up missing I was
nine months pregnant, and my daughter
(now 3-years-old) and Rexxn are already
attached to one another as though he had
beenwithus herwhole life.”
After arriving back home in Columbus,
Rexxn was examined by a veterinarian
and required multiple surgical incisions
to remove the matted and tangled fur that
had grown into his skin. According to
Green, he is healing fine and spends most
of his day cuddled up right next to his fam-
ily.
“The vet said other than the furmatting
and some physical effects of living on the
streets, Rexxn was relatively healthy over-
all and has a great temperament,” said Ta-
ShinaGreen.
“With the successful reunion of Rexxn
with his family, I'm hoping this story will
encourage more pet owners to consider
having their pet microchipped with both
the identification and tracking devices to
ensure all pets make it back home,” said
RomulusMayor LeRoyD. Burcroff.
For more information about the
American Kennel Club registration pro-
gram, visit
.
From the heart
The Van Buren Fire Department recently
presented a check for $9,000 to St.
Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor as a result of a
number of fundraising efforts by the
department to support breast cancer care
at the health facility. Celebrating the dona-
tion are, from left, firefighters Elizabeth
McCormick; LaMar Griffin; Dustin Cox;
David McInally; Ryan Smith; Lt. Doug
Doty; John Stout, regional director of
Oncology Services at St. Joe's; Brandy
Marino, regional director of annual giving
at St. Joe's; David Brooks, president of St.
Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor and Livingston
hospitals, and firefighters David
Brouillette; Matt Jovanelly; Lacey Lo
Marcotte and Aaron Ladach at the Van
Buren Fire Station.
Darrin Green picks up his long-lost dog,
Rexxn, from the Romulus Animal Shelter.
Ta-Shina Green with her daughter and
Rexxn.
