Loves Park Doggie Daycare Lets Dog Escape

LOVES PARK - Many pet owners trust their furry friends to professionals at animal kennels to keep an eye on them.  But a Loves Park pet resort is now left explaining how one dog managed to get away.  Dog owner, Dennis Dizon says he was just trying to socialize his two year-old Shiba Inu named "Ava" when he received a phone call saying she escaped from the Dogwood Pet Resort.

"I just want my dog back," said Dizon.  "She's so scared; she's scared of everything."

Ava is scared because Dizon says he and his wife rescued her after a bad upbringing.  Dizon says the dog is skiddish around animals and other dogs.

"When we got home I even told my wife, 'I have a bad feeling in there," said Dizon, and his gut feeling was right.

"Ava was let out with all the other little dogs," claims Rachael Brown, manager of Dogwood Pet Resort, the doggie day care Ava was brought to for socializing.

"As soon as they were let off the leash to go potty and play outside, Ava immediately ran, jumped onto the brick fence and squeeze through the black bars on the fence."

Both Brown and Dizon say Ava came in for an interview of sorts to see if she would have any problems being at the day care.  With no problems evident during her interview on Thursday, Ava was brought in on Friday; later that day she would escape.

Brown says her employees tried locating Ava after she escaped.  She says they came close, but never were able to corner the 15 pound dog.  Now they're playing catch up and are trying to get the word out about Ava being missing.

"We have put a lost dog ad on Facebook, Craigslist, and we just put on into the newspaper this morning," said Brown.

"We also just put ads up and went driving around the neighborhoods that she was last seen by Guilford High School."

Dizon says he brings his other dog named "Inu" to Dogwood all the time.  He doesn't want to blame them for the escape, but he doesn't understand how professionals let something like this happen.

"My concern there is just, if somebody saw Ava crossing the street then I think somebody should have followed her," said Dizon.

Brown says this is the first time this has ever happened to Dogwood in their seven year history.  The small dog play area where Ava escaped from is now off limits until further notice.  Ava's owner is still looking for her.  He says she was last spotted in the area of Pepper Drive.  Ava is extremely shy and runs when approached, so if you see Ava you're urged to call Dizon at (815) 608-3366.