Tugger is back home with Mom and Dad after three years in possible captivity.

It鈥檚 suspected Tugger spent at least part of the past three years in a puppy mill, as evident by his rather aggressive sexual drive, said John Van Elswyk.

He and his partner Sindy Cooper lost the pup when he escaped their Murrayville yard one April evening.

They went door to door asking neighbours. They plastered the area with posters. They visited the SPCA and Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) frequently in the weeks that followed. But there was no sign of Tugger.

After a few months, they gave up the search, assuming he 鈥渉ad dinner with the coyotes鈥� in their neighbourhood.

They gave up hope.

鈥淲e cried our eyes out,鈥� Van Elswyk said.

Fast forward to the end of June 2018, and Tugger was found wandering the streets of Fort Langley. LAPS was called, and an ID check revealed Tugger was microchipped.

Although Cooper had changed her cellphone number since Tugger disappeared, Van Elswyk was still listed as a secondary emergency contact. So he took the 鈥渏aw-dropping鈥� call.

Over breakfast at a Turkish cafe a few Sundays ago, the astonished couple learned that Tugger was in fact alive, and in the care of LAPS.

鈥淚t was like watching those IKEA commercials,鈥� Van Elswyk said. 鈥淪he just yelled 鈥榮tart the car鈥�. Don鈥檛 even bother calling back.鈥�

They were at the Aldergrove shelter 20 minutes later in tears of shock and disbelief.

鈥淚 could hardly breath,鈥� Cooper said, her shaking while Van Elswyk said he was covered in goosebumps.

What they found was a three-and-a-half old purebred Pomeranian who weighs all of less than four pounds. He was incredibly nervous, filthy dirty, matted, and had to a few rotten teeth that needed removing.

But the second the couple made the clicking noise they used to get their dogs鈥� attention, Tugger seemingly recognize them immediately.

It was, as LAPS executive director Jayne Nelson described, a 鈥渧ery emotional鈥� reunion.

鈥淭hey had given up ever seeing him again so were very grateful to have him back,鈥� she elaborated.

Cooper concurred.

鈥淚 could never have fathomed this happening鈥� we鈥檙e just so grateful.鈥�

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A working theory

鈥淚t would have taken him four years to walk to Fort Langley鈥� from their home in Murrayville, Van Elswyk said, noting there鈥檚 no way he made it there on his own.

So, after discussions with the veterinarian, they鈥檙e convinced Tugger was snatched up 鈥� because he was a young, unneutered male worth a 鈥減retty penny鈥� 鈥� and likely thrown in a crate or small cage and contained for breeding purposes only.

With Pom pups selling for $1,500 to $2,500 each, this little guy could was likely bringing in thousands a year, Van Elswyk interjected.

鈥淥ur theory now鈥� we think he was in a puppy mill,鈥� he elaborated. Cooper insisting that seems more credible given his disposition.

鈥淗e even wants to do the cats鈥� Anything on four legs, he thinks it鈥檚 fair game.鈥�

Thankfully, there will be no more breeding in Tugger鈥檚 future, Cooper explained, anxious to correct some of the aggressive habits he鈥檚 picked up while being away.

鈥淲e just want to make sure that he鈥檚 well taken care of and knows he鈥檚 loved,鈥� Cooper said.

鈥淭he first week, it was like oh my god, I have a rotten kid鈥� I was ripping out my hair鈥� with him no longer house trained and constantly trying to mount their other dog, Babe, as well as their cat.

The second week, he calmed down, and started eat properly after the removal of two rotten teeth.

Now, as each day passes, he鈥檚 getting better and better.

鈥淚t was like getting a problem child and getting him some therapy. He鈥檚 actually really good. He鈥檚 really calmed down鈥� I think it鈥檚 going to take a while just to get him calmed down.鈥�

It鈥檚 already cost the couple $600 in vet bills.

The focus for the next few weeks will simply be acclimatizing him back into his life, working on his behavioural issues, and then get him fixed, said Cooper, who compared herself to a stressed mom with a colicy child.

鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 left my side鈥� I move, he鈥檚 there,鈥� Cooper joked, picking him up for another cuddle.

Tugger had been a gift only a few months before he went missing.

Cooper鈥檚 coworkers at a Burnaby traffic control company pooled their money 鈥� $3,000 鈥� and ordered the pup from Ontario. They did it all in secret, and dispatched Cooper to the airport to pick up a package that turned out to be the little Pom pup.

At the time, she had recently lost her 18-year-old all black toy Pom, Cutie, and Tugger was a birthday gift to help fill the void in her life.

鈥淭hey got together and decided I needed another puppy because they all missed Cutie. She was just everybody鈥檚 sweet little baby,鈥� Cooper recounted.

She and Van Elswyk only had him a few months before he disappeared. But it was enough time to become attached, and the couple say they鈥檙e excited and relieved to have Tugger home again.

It goes to show that marking a pet 鈥� whether it be a tattoo or a microchip 鈥� is imperative. They鈥檇 never have Tugger back, if it hadn鈥檛 been for the chip, a story that Van Elswyk is quick to share with almost anyone who will listen.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great having him back. It鈥檚 just swell,鈥� he said, picking him up and giving him another hug and words of assurance.