The Virginia owner of a mixed-breed pit bull said she was dumbfounded upon hearing that her dog, missing for eight years, had turned up in Yuba County. "Petunia," who's a mix of American Staffordshire Terrier and pit bull, was found in the Spenceville Wildlife Area near Beale Air Force Base earlier this week after she disappeared from a family farm in Virginia in 2003.
The woman who found her, Meg Eden of Oregon, was working with her dogs in the wildlife area when Petunia approached her, according to the Yuba County Sheriff's Department.
Eden took the dog to Yuba County's animal shelter Thursday, where a microchip scan connected Petunia to a veterinary clinic in Virginia. Clinic staff told Yuba County animal workers who Petunia was.
After the clinic contacted Petunia's listed owner, Kristen Pruitt of Fredericksburg, Va., she called the shelter and said Petunia, who was then 3 years old, had disappeared from the family's farm around Thanksgiving eight years ago.
Despite a large search, the family found no trace of her.
"We had definitely given up hope after eight years," Pruitt said.
A photo convinced Pruitt the dog found Wednesday was the same one she'd lost thousands of miles away, according to the shelter.
There was no explanation of how the dog traveled so far from where she was originally.
But Pruitt said her best guess is because Petunia is "gregariously friendly."
Yuba County Animal Care Services will assist Petunia in getting home to her family shortly, according to the department.
Petunia's Malti-Poo roommate in Virginia, Boo Boo, who is also microchipped, is excited for her canine friend's return, the owner said.
Pruitt said she is "anxious" to find out how the dogs will react when they see each other.
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