Lost dog Scoobee found in Wilkins, owners rejoice

Call it a Christmas miracle.

Scoobee, the 60-pound shepherd/pitbull mix that escaped from the Banfield Veterinary Hospital in Monroeville on Friday - and had been on the run - was found by a man in Wilkins on Wednesday. He called police who came to pick her up and notified the dog’s owners, Nicholas and Darcie Chontas.

They were ecstatic upon hearing the news.

“I was a little hysterical so I didn’t hear everything the police officer said,” said Nicholas Chontas about his reaction when he first spoke to police. “It’s been a really, really rough couple days.”

Once he got to the Wilkins police station to pick up Scoobee, there was an emotional reunion, said Chontas.

“I was just happy to see that she was OK,” his voice cracking. “You know I was just overwhelmed with emotion and just seeing her. It was a huge rush of happiness. I had thought the worst.”

The Chontases had been hearing inaccurate reports for days including stories that she had been hit by a car.

“I was just so happy to see that she was walking and seemed relatively okay,” he said.

The-9-year-old female was found with one of the Banfield Veterinary Hospital leashes on her. Chontas had taken her there last Friday for routine treatment before she escaped.

After picking up Scoobee at the police station, Chontas said he took her to Avets Animal Hospital in Monroeville Wednesday to be examined and treated for raw, red paws.

“All the blackness on her paws has worn off and they’re just blood red. It looks like she was on the move the entire time. She’s lost about eight pounds. She looked hungry. She seemed to be shaken,” said Chontas who brought the family’s other dog Coco, a Chihuahua/Jack Russell terrier mix, along for the reunion. His wife stayed home with the couple’s 4-month-old baby boy.

Chontas said he’s not worried about Scoobee gaining back her weight.

“All the treats we’re going to be stuffing down her will take care of that.”

The Chontas’ ordeal began Friday, some 20 minutes after Nicholas returned home from dropping the dog off at Banfield. The animal hospital called to say the dog had gotten away and they couldn’t find her.

For its part, the pet hospital said they hired a search-and-rescue professional and offered a $5,000 reward to anyone who could find Scoobee.

Chontas said he never lost hope and never stopped searching.

“On my way home last night I just said ‘tomorrow is going to be the day.’ I just knew it.”

Chontas said he and his wife had been heartbroken and had a hard time sleeping and eating since Scoobee has been gone. But now she’s home for the holidays.

“I’m so happy to have her back,” he said.