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Family Searching For Missing Service Dog After It Escapes From Caretaker

AMADOR COUNTY (CBS13) - Todd and Lori Barger went to Valley Springs to pick up their beloved service dog Dede on Sunday. It's only the second time in 11 years they went on vacation and had to leave her behind.

"We were almost crying we couldn't wait to see her," Todd said.

But instead it was tears of anguish. The dog sitter said DeDe ran away and despite try to find her, she was gone.

"I really want her back if anybody finds her, I really want her back," Lori said.

Distraught over their loss, the couple said they immediately started searching the property, but were asked to leave.

"She said, 'It's just a dog,' and it ripped me," Todd said.

"It hurt me too," said Lori.

"It hurt both of us," he said.

They left empty handed and brokenhearted, now wondering who it is they really left DeDe with.

"Why didn't they call them Saturday night when it happened," said the couple's caregiver Monique Barton. "They waited until they came home and said oh by the way your dog is gone. Who does that?"

She said Michelle Hernandez, the dog sitter, was recommended through a credible source and has her business listing online.

We went to the place DeDe was boarded in Calaveras County and her husband said over the phone, it's not a business, it's something his wife does on the side and sent this statement:

"I know this has been devastating for both families. My wife and I, from the bottom of my heart apologize to them, we are sorry And if we can make it up in another way we would be more than happy to do so again we apologize. It was an accident we did our due diligence, everything on our behalf looking for DeDe. Once again we are deeply sorry." -Louis Hernandez

Lori suffers from anxiety and depression. DeDe became her registered emotional support dog and the two have hardly been apart until now.

"Lori is a wreck. She won't stop crying she had to get into anxiety just to stop freaking out," her caregiver said.

Dede is a Cairn Terrier and was lost on highway 12 and Evans Road.

If you have information please call (209)274-4550

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