Jessie's Back - thanks to her Identipet microchip

When Sandton SPCA implanted an Identipet microchip into Jessie, the German Shepherd pup belonging to 8 year old Zain Vally, little did anyone know that this tiny chip was to be Jessie's passport to recovery.

Soon after that visit to the SPCA in September 2000, Jessie disappeared. Zain's father described his heartbroken son's uncanny optimism that someday Jessie would reappear.

On the busy intersection of Rabie and Republic roads, in peak hour traffic, on Thursday 31st July, 2003, (almost three years later) Jessie was plucked from the busy road, by an SPCA inspector recognizing her plight, and taken to the Randburg SPCA. Yet another life-saving "beep" emanated from the Identipet scanner revealing the lucky dog's implanted microchip number. The database was searched. Mr. Reedwaan Vally was over the moon. Zain just cried and cried with joy.

On Saturday, two days later, not only was Identipet there to witness the reunion, but the story had caught the imagination of SABC TV producer Nina Allchurch, who was also there to film this remarkable and heartwarming reunion of a now four year old dog, and her 11 year old master.

Jessie was brought out of the kennels by Mr Phillip Roberts, General Manager of Randburg SPCA, and Zain caught his breath as his beloved dog Jessie bounded towards him. Tears flowed as a boy and his dog were reunited. Zain forgot about the crowd that had gathered to witness the moment, and flung his arms around Jessie. He was welcomed in return by Jessie who couldn't stop licking his face. The overjoyed Vally family are still amazed that they have Jessie back and couldn't wait to take her home to reintroduce her to her playmate Max, the Vally's other German Shepherd who had pined for her after her disappearance.

It has all worked, thanks to an Identipet microchip, the size of a grain of rice.