Search continues for dog lost by Monroeville veterinary hospital

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 married couple’s 60-pound shepherd / pitbull 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 animal hospital called to say the dog was had run away and they couldn’t find her.

As of Tuesday evening, the dog still had not been found, although there were apparently sightings.

“The last thing we heard was she got on the promenade and was heading for the Churchill exit,” Darcie Chontas said. “It’s honestly 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 chasing Scoobee since last Friday, losing any possible lead, but they have been unlucky.

For its part, the pet hospital 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 help locate Scoobee and to work directly with his family during this difficult time to offer all possible help and support,” Banfield said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Darcie Chontas’ family, which includes a 4 month old baby boy, are going through a rough patch. They also have a dog named Coco, a Chihuahua / Jack Russell terrier mix, who like Scoobee is 9 years old and her sister is bored.

“Honestly, my heart is broken,” she said. “Our family is broken up right now. We just continue our prayers and hope for the best outcome. “