Family waited eagerly to bring their missing dog home after Christmas — but an ‘unforgivable error’ at the shelter ended their reunion forever
A worried owner was frantically searching for her pet dog, who went missing around Christmas. After days of contacting local shelters, she received good news of a reunion that would be possible after the holidays. The owner, Monica Lopez, was overjoyed by the news and eagerly waited for the day she would see her beloved pet once again. As she drove to pick him up from the rescue shelter, Lopez soon realized that the reunion she had long awaited would never be possible due to an "unforgivable error."
The dog named Dada, a Pit Bull mix, was reported lost by his owner on December 18, 2020. He had gotten loose and run out of his home. Lopez had reached out to various local shelters in her area in an attempt to gather more information about his whereabouts, but had no luck. She contacted the Champaign County Animal Control in Illinois to report the missing dog and provide his description. The shelter did not have any matching records, but Lopez did not lose hope and kept searching. Three days before Christmas, a woman called the dog owner to inform her that she had found Dada and left him under the care of animal control on the same day he was lost. She contacted the shelter again and sent a picture of Dada to be sure.
The authorities confirmed that the Pit Bull was with animal control, as reported by Wand News. The circumstances were not right for Lopez to go pick up her dog from animal control, as she was heading to work before the Christmas holidays. The shelter would close for the holidays, and Lopez would only be able to see Dada on their next working day after Christmas. Lopez waited until December 28 for the animal control office to reopen, while they assured Dada would be kept “safe and warm” until then. Relieved by the news, she spent her holidays hoping for the magical reunion. The day came, and Lopez was happily on her way to get her missing dog when the worst news reached her.
She was informed by the staff that her dog was euthanized by mistake. A major confusion had played out in the animal control due to the staff's vacations and holidays. The person responsible for euthanizing dogs was unaware of a last-minute change that ultimately claimed Dada’s life. Darlene Kloeppel, the Champaign County executive, confirmed that the dog was put down on Christmas Eve, the day they promised to keep him safe and warm. "Fortunately, errors of this type are rare. While the holidays and staff vacations made this circumstance unique, additional steps in animal control procedures have been put in place to prevent any similar gaps in communication in the future,” Kloeppel said in a statement.
According to their shelter policy, any dog staying with animal control longer than five days becomes their property. However, the owner is not backing down. Lopez, who was pregnant at the time, planned to take legal action demanding justice for the responsibility that took her furry pal’s life. "Dada will get justice, and I know nothing will ever bring him back, but this cannot happen to any more Pit Bulls,” she stated. On Facebook, Lopez penned a heartbreaking note on losing her best friend and calling out the animal control for their unforgivable mistake.