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Dog's microchip may solve mystery in Hingham

E-mail|Link|Comments () June 18, 2009 07:15 PM

(Matt Collette/Globe Correspondent)

Hingham animal control officer Leslie Badger with the dog. What secrets does he know?

By Matt Collette and Michele Richinick, Globe Correspondents

HINGHAM -- A microchip embedded in a Saint Bernard may help Hingham police solve the mystery of a man who went for a walk in the woods on Wednesday with the dog and disappeared.

A Nebraska company manufactured the microchip, which is used by people to find lost dogs. Investigators hope that the company has information about who bought the microchip.

"We are trying to contact the people in Nebraska to see if they can help us out," said Lieutenant Michael Peraino, a Hingham police spokesperson.

The Saint Bernard was found wet and wandering alone near Accord Pond, raising fears that something may have happened to the dog's owner, a man in his 70s with gray hair. Police scoured the area with their own dogs while Accord Pond was searched by dive teams and a boat using an underwater camera.

Police do not know the man's name, and no one matching his description has been reported missing. Employees at a local Chili's Grill & Bar often saw the man walk the Saint Bernard in the woods. They became alarmed on Wednesday when the dog returned without his owner.

"It's weird, I saw the Saint Bernard," said Steven Morgan, manager at Chili's. "Aren't they supposed to be able to find people? I don't know, maybe that's only in the cartoons."

While investigators wait to hear from the manufacturer of the microchip, police today searched the woods again near the pond.

"We don't even know if there is a missing person yet," said Lieutenant James. F. Taylor, who confirmed a search was underway but would not give additional details.

Globe Correspondent L.E. Crowley contributed to this report.