It is a story worthy of a Hollywood film, stretching from the Tulsa area in Oklahoma to the city of Greensboro in North Carolina.
It all began on 30 July when Rio, a ten-year-old Australian Shepherd, escaped the watchful eye of his owner, Melissa Burris.
For several days, Melissa searched tirelessly, scouring local rescue centres and posting appeals on social media, but without finding a single clue.
An unexpected phone call
On 11 August, nearly 1,100 miles away, a Good Samaritan spotted a stray dog wandering the streets of Greensboro, North Carolina, and took him to the local rescue centre.
As soon as he arrived, staff scanned him to check for a microchip.
The scanner confirmed he had one. On checking the database, the shelter team were stunned to discover that the dog’s registered address was all the way back in Oklahoma.
"When we called his owner to tell her we had Rio, she was in absolute shock. She couldn't believe her ears," said Jorge Ortega, director of Guilford County Animal Services.
A complete mystery
How could a ten-year-old dog travel such a huge distance in less than two weeks? It remains a complete mystery. Both local authorities and his owner agree it is highly unlikely the dog made the entire journey on his own in such a short time.
Did a passing motorist take him in? Did he hitch a ride in the back of a lorry? No one knows, and Rio certainly isn't telling.
Translated from the Wamiz website FR using artificial intelligence
