Darcie and Nicholas Chontas have only one Christmas wish this year: the safe return of their dog Scoobee.
What started as a routine vet appointment for the couple’s 60-pound shepherd / pit bull mix has turned into a vacation nightmare.
Last Friday, about 20 minutes after her husband returned to his Braddock Hills home after dropping the dog off at Banfield Veterinary Hospital in Monroeville, Darcie said the veterinary clinic called to say the dog escaped and she could not find them.
The dog had still not been found by Tuesday evening, although there had apparently been sightings.
“The last thing we heard was her coming onto the parkway and headed for the Churchill Exit,” said Darcie Chontas. “To be honest, it is a tragic situation. You take your dog for a simple, routine checkup to keep him healthy and (then) get the worst phone call of your life. “
The Chontas have been searching for Scoobee since last Friday and traced every lead, but they were out of luck.
For its part, the veterinary clinic said it has hired a search and rescue professional and is offering a $ 5,000 reward to anyone who can find Scoobee.
“We will continue to make it our priority to locate Scoobee and work directly with her family during this difficult time to offer all possible help and support,” Banfield said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Darcie Chontas’ family, which includes a four-month-old boy, is having a difficult time. They also have a female dog named Coco, a Chihuahua / Jack Russell Terrier mix who, like Scoobee, is 9 years old and misses her sister.
“I am honestly just heartbroken,” she said. “Our family is broken right now. We just keep praying and hope for the best result. “
Paul Guggenheimer is a contributor to Tribune Review. You can contact Paul at 724-226-7706 or pguggenheimer@triblive.com.