Christmas miracle – Stolen dog found after seven years

There are stories that only life writes – including the one about the missing dog “Suzi”, who has now turned up at TierQuarTier Vienna more than seven years later. But up front: the black and white Pekingese was visiting relatives in Vienna in 2015, together with Mrs. Olgica T. and her family.

On their way home to Nuremberg, the family stopped at a supermarket near Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof and tied up their four-legged friend in front of the shop. When the family returns from shopping, there is no sign of the dog. Olgica T. pulls out all the stops: she informs the Austrian media, reports her missing and reports it to the police.

Vanished without a trace
But “Suzi” remains as if swallowed by the earth. In mid-November 2022, a small, black senior dog ended up at TierQuarTier via detours, but a link with the case and the family in Germany could not be established. “With us, she was aloof with strangers, but affectionate and cuddly with people she knew. She especially enjoyed walks in the countryside and naps in cozy places,” says TierQuarTier operations manager Thomas Benda.

random hit on the internet
When “Suzi” was ready to move into a new home, the older dog was featured on the facility’s social media channels. And just then the story took an incredible turn: a user remembered the fate of the four-legged friend and gave the decisive hint that she may be the dog that has been missing for seven years. All information was immediately followed up and it was clear: it really is her!

Great pleasure to see you again
Olgica T. from Nuremberg and her family were immediately informed and could hardly believe it. “I never gave up hope of seeing ‘Suzi’ again. There were always reports of sightings, but in the end it was always a disappointment. When I got a call from a Viennese number last week, my first thought was family matters.” tells Olgica T. “I was shocked when the gentleman on the line told me that ‘Suzi’ had been found. After such a long time you are very skeptical at first whether it can be true.”

Happy ending
But with the help of current photos, it was also clear to Olgica T. that it had to be “Suzi”. A few days later, at four in the morning, Olgica T. and her husband packed their bags and drove to TierQuarTier Vienna to pick up their animal and bring it home. Her daughter traveled to the reunion from Madrid, where the student is currently doing a semester abroad, to attend the family reunion. The reunion was “a peak of feelings,” says Olgica T. “It was an indescribable situation to see and hug her after all these years.”

“As an animal shelter, we face tragic fates and heartbreaking experiences every day. But the story of ‘Suzi’ touched us all very much. It’s a miracle, even at Christmas, that she was finally allowed to go back to her family after all these years!” says Benda.

Chip and register important
“This moving story shows how important it is to have your pet chipped and registered at the same time, because that’s the only way to quickly find the owner,” emphasizes Jürgen Czernohorszky, Councilor for Animal Protection. “I wish the family a great time with ‘Suzi’ – they will surely have one of the most beautiful Christmases together this year!”

Home
Meanwhile, the ladybug “Suzi” has arrived safely in her hometown of Nuremberg. “Understandably, she was a little apprehensive at first. But when we got home, she recognized us. Out of nowhere she ran around exploring her new, old kingdom,” says Olgica T. “She spent the first night in my daughter’s bed. And today she did not leave my side during the day. Even if the reunion is accompanied by sadness for the lost years, the joy outweighs that!”