Dog left in France after microchip fails returns home

Indy was reunited with his brother Buzz after nearly three weeks in French kennels

A Berkshire family has been reunited with their dog after his pet passport microchip failed and he became stuck in France when they returned from holiday.

Matt Roberts and his family returned to Arborfield, near Reading, in September without their dog Indy because the technology had stopped working.

Indy had to have surgery to remove the chip which was sent to the manufacturer to be read.

His identity was confirmed and Mr Roberts picked him up on Tuesday.

Mr Roberts, his wife Dorota, six-month-old daughter Harriet and their two Shih Tzu dogs, Indy and Buzz, had just finished a two-week holiday in the south of France.

'Went berserk'

When they tried to re-enter the country via Dunkirk on 18 September the scanners could not read Indy's microchip and the family were forced to leave him in kennels in France.

Mr Roberts said the problem had ended up costing about £2,000 but added that the "inconvenience and stress" had been far worse.

He said: "Tuesday was a really anxious day and when I arrived at the kennels at lunchtime, Indy went berserk.

"He was so happy, it was difficult to finish off the paperwork as he wouldn't stop licking my face.

"The biggest moment for me was when the pet control centre at Calais agreed all his paperwork was present and correct."

"When we returned home the reunion with the rest of the family was fantastic.

"My wife was overjoyed and his brother Buzz seemed to come out of his depressive slump instantly. I've rarely seen both of them so happy.

"It's great to have him home."