FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. \u2014 Maria Helena Lugo says the past three weeks have been an emotional struggle as she fought to get her dog, Coco, back.<\/p>\n
Lugo, who speaks only Spanish, said someone found Coco and brought him to Sandy Paws K-9 Rescue in Fort Lauderdale. But when she went to claim him, the rescue said she did not have enough proof of ownership to take him home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the deputy arrived, he told me to stay outside while he went in to see what was going on,\u201d Lugo said in Spanish.<\/p>\n
Desperate for help, Lugo reached out to Local 10 News.<\/p>\n
A meeting was arranged in Fort Lauderdale, where Lugo was finally reunited with Coco.<\/p>\n
After facing criticism on social media, Sandy Paws Canine Rescue explained why the dog was not released sooner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe contacted the initial person who owned the microchip, which was his original breeder. It was a man who was not connected to the family whatsoever,\u201d said Desiree Remington, vice president of Sandy Paws Canine Rescue.<\/p>\n
Remington said a few days later, Lugo\u2019s son contacted the rescue, claiming the dog belonged to their family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe police advised us we did not need to give her the dog because she didn\u2019t have proof of ownership,\u201d Remington said.<\/p>\n
She said everything changed after the rescue saw photos on social media clearly showing Coco with Lugo and her family, providing the additional evidence needed to confirm ownership.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when the long-awaited reunion finally happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were too many conflicting stories for us to simply hand the dog over the first time she came to our residence,\u201d Remington said.<\/p>\n
With Coco back in her arms, Lugo said she was overwhelmed with relief.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so happy. I feel like I\u2019ve gotten my life back. You can\u2019t imagine what these 15 days without my dog have been like. I\u2019ve suffered so much,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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