MIAMI — Hanna Bustos, a mother of five, tried to comfort her children on Saturday at their home in Miami. Busto’s three daughters and two sons miss their one-year-old puppy terribly.
Bustos, who is a cancer patient preparing to undergo chemotherapy, said it has been seven months since they last saw their poodle named “Lucy.”
Bustos said she hired a temporary dog sitter, who has a dog breeding company and came highly recommended as a boarder, but she has refused to return her to them.
“She was not willing to remove ‘Lucy’ from her pack … I felt like instant betrayal because I know that my son trusted me to trust her, and I made a judgment call that was not helpful for my family, and I could only think about him,” Bustos said through tears. “That’s the truth: How was I going to tell my son?”
The poodle was initially a gift for her 14-year-old son, who said on Saturday through tears that “Lucy” was his “best friend.” Bustos explained the situation to the dog sitter.
“I am not giving her up,” the dog sitter said, according to Bustos.
Feeling powerless, Bustos said she has filed two reports with the Miami Police Department, hired an attorney for help in civil court, and started a campaign to “Bring Lucy” home.
Afternoon report
Dog sitter refuses to return dog to family in Miami
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