2 Years After A Woman’s Husky Went Missing, She Learned The Alarming Truth About His Disappearance

Howl

She watched the black car roll up with its precious cargo. The sheriff got out and opened the back door. Her heart fluttered as she realized that the sheriff wasn’t alone. And then, her best friend was running towards her at full tilt and she couldn’t contain her tears anymore. She cried and cried, releasing the pain of two long years up into the sky.

Companionship

Californian Kameroun Mares was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia at a young age, but after going into remission, she suffered from terrible depression, as well as hyperglycemia. The disease had taken a psychological as well as a physiological toll on her. She then decided that she needed a positive influence in her life. And what could be a more positive companion than a dog?

Research

Kameroun did all her research and decided on a Siberian Husky. The high-energy breed needs a lot of exercise, and this suited her well. She planned on going for daily runs with her new companion by her side. She prepared carefully for her new puppy to come home and had had even decided on a name. She had no idea just how attached to this little pup she would become.

Always Faithful

When it was finally time for Semper Fidelis, meaning “always faithful”, to come home she couldn’t contain her excitement. And little Semper was everything she had ever wanted, and more. Semper thrived in his new home with Kameroun, and soon he grew from a rambunctious Husky puppy to a beautiful and well-tempered adult. But Huskies usually present some challenges, too.

Growing Pains

Semper was having trouble with recall and with walking on lead, which is common for huskies. Bred to run and pull sleds, even huskies in suburbia never really forget their roots. Semper would pull and tug on the lead with his powerful shoulders when Kameroun walked him, and she knew that if she ever let go, he would run and run — not stopping until he was finally exhausted. And this is just what Kameroun thought had happened when Semper went missing. But she was wrong.

Bonded

Kameroun and Semper had become inseparable. She loved her dog dearly, and during the ups and downs of her illness, he was always by her side. Having such a loyal companion helped Kameroun tremendously, and she was feeling a little stronger every day. So naturally, When she moved to Florida in 2015, Semper came with her. But then, something awful happened.

Leaving

When Kameroun was undergoing treatment in Florida, she quickly realized that she wasn’t covered by her medical insurance in the new state, so she had to return to California for the duration of her treatment. She was beside herself with worry — she would have to leave Semper in Florida. She was a responsible pet owner and made sure he wouldn’t be alone, but she never knew that her trust would later prove to be terribly misplaced.

Phonecall

Semper would be left in her apartment with her roommate as well as a pet sitter to make sure he was taken care of when she was gone. Then, it all went horribly wrong, and Kameroun received a startling call about Semper. “I was told by my roommate Semper had escaped through the front door,” Mares explained to ABC News. “I asked, ‘Did he have a collar on?’ My roommate said he didn’t know.”

Gone

Kameroun was devastated and took to social media, joining lost pet groups and sharing Semper’s image as widely as she could. She put up fliers and did everything she possibly could to find him. Two years passed with no sign of Semper. Then one day, as a last ditch effort, she decided to check Semper’s microchip records online. And then the mystery as to his whereabouts only deepened.

Investigation

Kameroun saw that Semper was registered to two microchips — the original record was for the American Kennel Club, but there was a second mysterious record called PetKey. And this record had been added shortly after Semper’s disappearance! Kameroun was filled with hope for the first time in two long years, and promptly hired a private investigator called Ana Campos Investigations (ACI), as well as a lawyer.

Discovery

ACI probed into the case, and then made a startling breakthrough. Semper had never run away at all. “In reality, he was never missing; he was sold,” Kameroun said. “He was stolen [by my roommate] and sold from me without my consent.” It was later found out that Kameroun’s roommate had sold her beloved pet for $200! But would she ever see Semper again?

Sheriff’s Visit

After battling a long legal case, the court ruled in Kameroun’s favor and Semper was seized by the sheriff, declaring her the rightful owner. On October 18, 2018, Ana Campos Investigations uploaded a video on Youtube, with the caption: “Watch at your own risk of crying immediately. Here is the video and audio from Kameroun Mares reunion with her dog Semper today.”

“Semper!”

Semper can be seen arriving in the back of a black car, his tail wagging wildly as he paces on the backseat. Then, the officer opens the door and brings the Husky out on a leash. Kameroun sees her beloved companion and yells “Semper!” and the Husky’s ears prick forward. But will he remember her after over two years apart?

Reunion

Semper strains on the lead when he hears his name, and the officer lets him go. He sprints towards Kameroun, eyes wide and tongue lolling out of his grinning mouth. Kameroun awaits him with open arms and kneels to receive him. After everything she’s been through, she finally has her best friend back!

Tears Of Joy

The raw emotion at finally seeing Semper again after more than two years has Kameroun wailing as she pets him all over. Semper is beside himself with excitement and darts to and fro, refusing to stand still while Kameroun runs her fingers through his luxurious Husky fur. The video is sure to bring viewers to tears! But one aspect of Semper never changed.

Accountability

“He’s still the same as usual,” Kameroun cries. “Just tugging the leash as always.” Kameroun cries tears of joy into her dog’s fur and then leads him inside — back home. But the question remains, how did this happen in the first place? Who is to be held accountable for Semper’s unauthorized rehoming?

Determination

Ana Campos Investigations wrote: “Please keep in mind Kameroun is just 26 years old. She was 23 when this began. For a young girl to have the wherewithal and courage to hire a private investigator and attorney is remarkable. Shame on Petkey pets for causing her to suffer and spend her savings on fighting for her dog back because of the role they played.”

Irresponsible

“He was stolen and sold by her roommate 2 1/2 years ago. She was told he was lost on April 30, 2016. But on April 11, 2016 the buyer added their name to his AKC Reunite “registered chip”. They registered this registered chip on Petkey pets instead. Petkey pets did not bother to see if he was chipped already.” Nevertheless, Ana Campos Investigations were as thrilled as Kameroun to finally have Semper back!

Response

PetKey’s response was unsatisfactory: “It is a pet identifier,” they claimed. “It’s not a certificate of ownership, it’s just to help pets going in the right direction. Vets, shelters, animal control etcetera. It’s not for the microchip company to determine who the rightful owner is.” But surely they should have checked for a chip and contacted Semper’s owner?

Importance Of Microchips

Nevertheless, Semper’s story serves to illustrate how important it is for people to microchip their pets — if it weren’t for Kameroun’s ability to check Semper’s online microchip records, she may never have seen him again. “The huge wound in my heart can finally start healing,” Kameroun told ABC News. Kemeroun also advised owners of lost pets to check their microchip records for extra registries: “I implore owners to be aware that this can and does happen,” she cautions.