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South Florida Family Says Kennel Lost Their Dog

POSTED: Thursday, December 9, 2004
UPDATED: 4:09 pm EST December 27, 2004

A South Florida family is distraught after they say a kennel they trusted lost their dog, and the Local 10 Problem Solvers learned this isn't the first time a dog has slipped out of Miracle Acres in Davie.

Video
Larry Klocek breaks into tears at the sight of his dog's collar. Family members said the mentally challenged man lived for their pet, a Dachsund named Precious.

"I want her back for Christmas. I miss her very much," Klocek said.

Relative Milton Short said a recent Disney vacation was cut short when the family received a call from Miracle Acres saying Precious had escaped, somehow slipping free of her leash and running out of a fenced area.

"It devastated us, devastated our family. It was negligence on their part," said family member Mindy Short. "It's just complete carelessness for someone to let an animal like that escape."

Miracle Acre's business card advertised loving care, 24-hours a day. After taking a closer look at the facility, Local 10 News learned that another dog recently escaped.

Local 10 News reporter Jeff Weinsier confronted the manager at Miracle Acres about the lost dogs. The following exchange took place:

Weinsier: "Can we ask you some questions about a missing dog?"

Manager: "I don't know anything about it."

Weinsier: "You're the manager that lives on the premises You know exactly about it because they came and talked to you."

Family members don't hold out much hope of finding Precious.
Manager: "Would you please? It's private property and I would like you to leave."

Later, Weinsier spoke to the kennel owner, Eric Reichenbach.

Weinsier: "Is what happened here acceptable?"

Reichenbach: "A lost dog is never acceptable."

Reichenbach said he had teams out searching and put an ad in the paper. He said there have also been discussions about putting up a second gate at Miracle Acres, but it hasn't happened yet.

"There isn't a kennel in town with two gates. A situation like this could happen at any kennel that walks dogs. It's a freak accident," he said.

Weinsier reports that no city, county or state inspectors check facilities like Miracle Acres.

"If it was a kid, they wouldn't be in business," said Mindy Short.

Milton Short said he feels like the kennel isn't looking for Precious anymore and that he has almost given up.

"I have a brother in law that lives with me that misses that dog, and I will be out looking every day," Milton Short said, choking back tears.

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