Dog reunited with family after vanishing two years ago
By Michael Bennett
Local Journalism Initiative
The Ridgetown Independent News
The Gates family may have feared the worst, but they never gave up hope that Trebor would someday come back home – even after two years.
The family’s prayers were answered recently when their beloved pet was found, and after a search and rescue straight out of a ‘great escape’ thriller, was back home.
Jessica Gates still can’t believe that after two years, Trebor is home.
“It’s overwhelming; we’re still in shock that he’s back,” she said.
The Gates had not seen Trebor, one of their two Jack Terrier crosses, since he mysteriously disappeared from their Kenesserie Road farm on June 1, 2024.
Out of the blue in late July, Gates received a text from her sister about a possible sighting in Blenheim.
Her sister forwarded a Facebook post that showed a picture of a Jack Terrier that matched Trebor’s description, which was found in the backyard of a Hall Street home.
The poster also included the address where the dog was found.
“I just happened to be in Blenheim picking up a cake for my daughter’s birthday,” Gates said. She immediately raced to the address listed in the Facebook post, but the dog was already gone.
“But it gave us hope; if it was him, we knew he was alive.”
The Gates posted an updated status of Trebor on social media, printed flyers and went back to the area the next day where the dog had been located, going door-to-door to talk to residents.
“We canvassed close to where he was found, thinking he probably wouldn’t have gone far from where he was,” she said.
While making their rounds, Gates received a message from an unknown male claiming it was his ex-girlfriend who stole Trebor and kept it for the last two years.
He also alleged his ex was likely the person who took the dog again from the Hall Street home after realizing it was missing and seeing the Facebook post.
“The ex-boyfriend gave us the name of the ex-girlfriend, but he didn’t know her address,” Gates said.
Gates learned more about the woman, including where she lived, while canvassing.
She went to the Blenheim office of the Chatham-Kent police to inform them of the situation.
Shortly after leaving the police station, Gates received a message from the woman herself, saying she would hand the dog over.
“We’re not sure if someone tipped her off; we talked to 15 or so people, so maybe someone tipped her off that we had her address and that the police were involved,” Gates said.
“It was a little nerve-wracking when we pulled up, but she gave Trebor up with no problem. She claimed she never saw any of the missing posters we had all over Facebook from the beginning,” Gates added.
Any fears that Trebor wouldn’t recognize his real family were quickly dismissed.
“He knew us 100 percent,” Gates said. “When we walked up on her porch, he came right over to me and nestled the top of his head in my lap … and he wasn’t going to leave me.”
It was also a happy reunion when they got Trebor back home to see his buddy Arya.
“They were totally happy to have each other back,” she said. “Arya was never the same dog without him. They were pretty excited to see each other; they had some running time around the house together.”
They took Trebor to a veterinarian and, outside of being a couple of pounds lighter and a little dirty, he was in good shape.
The Gates had Trebor for three years when he went missing.
Trebor and Ayra often roamed to a neighbour’s house, where a man named Robert (whom Trebor was named after, in reverse) gave them treats.
On this fateful day, Ayra came back home, but there was no sign of Trebor.
Family and neighbours searched the area as the Gates posted flyers all over the area and flooded social media sites, hoping someone would see him.
However, there wasn’t one sighting.
“Everybody was extremely upset,” Gates said. “We thought maybe a coyote got him. After a couple of months, we thought maybe he was gone for good – but we never gave up hope.”
The ex-boyfriend told Gates what happened that night some 25 months ago.
“He said they saw Trebor crossing between our house and the neighbour’s,” Gates said.
He said the woman got out of the vehicle and picked up Trebor.
“He said, ‘we should stop at the house,’ but she said, ‘no, I’m keeping him,’” Gates recounted the conversation.
She learned the couple renamed the dog Charlie.
By coincidence, Charlie was also the name of the Gates’ youngest daughter, who was distraught when Trebor went missing.
“She got a huge tattoo of Charlie when she turned 16,” Gates said. “But can you imagine how confused Trebor must have been when they called him Charlie?”
“I think it’s divine intervention how we found him,” she said.
The family is grateful for everyone in Blenheim who assisted in Trebor’s recovery.
“People were so willing to be helpful, giving us information. Thanks to everyone who helped,” Gates said.
