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New owner 'has a heart,' returns dog lost in Indiana tornado

By Justin L. Mack
jmack@jconline.com
Rosco poses with his family, getting a hug from Madison Pritchard, 10, in their Mellott, IN home after returning, Wednesday, December 18, 2013.  He had been lost during a recent tornado.  He was adopted by another owner from a local animal shelter, but after a month, and a plea from the original family, the dog was returned.

Ten-year-old Madison Pritchard still has a hard time believing that her dog, Rosco, is back home in Fountain County.

"When they told me, I thought they were kidding," she said today. "It's awesome. Actually, it's the best day in the world."

Rosco, a 3-year-old boxer torn from his Mellott home during last month's tornado, was returned to his original family this morning.

After the storm, he ended up in a Clinton County animal shelter, where he was cared for and eventually adopted.

When word made it to Rosco's new owner that the pooch was already spoken for, the adoptive family initially balked at the idea of giving him back. They too bonded with the playful canine.

By the pleas of Madison's mother, Kyla Robinson, moved the new owner, and Rosco was sent home.

"We never had the chance to speak to (the new owner) face to face," Robinson said. "We just want to thank her ... thank you so much for helping us put our family back together."

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All 10-year-old Madison wants for Christmas is her dog back.

Madison and her family returned to their home in the small Fountain County town of Mellott on Nov. 17 to find their house badly damaged by a tornado—and their beloved dog, Rosco, missing.

Within days, the dog was found wandering in Clinton County, 45 miles away, without any identification, and was turned in to a shelter. Five days later, according to the shelter's policies, Rosco was offered out for adoption, and was promptly taken in by a new family.

Now, having learned of their dog's fate, the Robinsons would like their dog back. But the adoptive family won't budge.

"I could have dealt with my house being gone 100 percent, but having a family member be gone when we got back was the hardest," Madison's mother, Kyla, said through tears. "I just want my baby girl to have her dog back. I do hope they can find it in their hearts to give him back."

When the tornado ravaged Mellott, Rosco was tied up outside Robinson's home off Indiana 341. The family was away at a baby shower.

Once the storm cleared, the dog somehow made his way to Frankfort and was taken in by the Clinton County Humane Society the next day.

Jim Tate, director of the humane society, said a man who saw the dog wandering around the city picked him up and brought him in.

Rosco wasn't hurt, but he also wasn't wearing any tags or identification, Tate said.

Thanks to a neighbor who opted to help by posting information about Rosco online, Robinson found out about her dog's journey in early December. But by that time, it was too late.

A new owner who visited the shelter on Nov. 23 met Rosco and fell in love. She took him home that day.

"We held the dog for five days, which is how long we hold them before we put them up for adoption," Tate explained. "After five days, he goes out to the adoption floor."

More storm coverage:My view of the Washington, Ill., tornado disaster

Days after the adoption, the shelter was contacted by a volunteer who saw a missing-dog post about Rosco on a Facebook page titled "Lost and Found Pets of Greater Lafayette." The Robinsons' neighbor had forwarded information about Rosco to the individuals who operate the page.

Tate then contacted Kyla Robinson on Dec. 6 and explained that Rosco was fine, but in a new home.

Once an adoption takes place, Tate said, the new owner has legal possession of the dog, and the shelter has no authority to step in and return the dog the original owner.

"Unfortunately it is out of our hands," Tate said.

But there was still hope, Robinson said. With shelter officials serving as mediators, the two families entered into talks to send Rosco back home.

On Dec. 8, the two sides reached a deal. But it didn't last long.

"Just a couple days later, on Dec. 10, the shelter called me and told me that the lady changed her mind," Robinson said. "We had something horrible happen to us, and it just sucks that we can't have him home. ... I don't want to take legal action, but I will."

Tate declined a Journal & Courier request to provide the name of the person who adopted Rosco, but he said that the new owner seems set on keeping him.

Attempts to reach the new owner for comment Monday were unsuccessful.

"It's been a crazy situation. We're trying to play the mediator here and so far we're not having the best of luck, but I can see both sides of it," Tate said. "For the original owner, I totally understand that they want their dog back. ... I would want him back if he was mine. On the other side, the lady who adopted him said he is bonding with the family and is perfect for what she was looking for.

"It really is heart-wrenching for both sides."

Jessica Smith, one of the individuals who operates the "Lost and Found Pets of Greater Lafayette" Facebook page, hopes the situation can come to a fair resolution.

She said the case brings an overlooked issue to light and shows why pet locating measures — microchips, for example — are so crucial.

Adding to the problem is that throughout the state, shelters have different rules about how long an animal is held.

"It makes you wonder, how often does this happen?" Smith said. "It's important that if a pet goes missing, never stop searching."

Robinson said she is thankful for the support of her neighbor who put Rosco's story online, as well as the local emergency officials who helped search for him once he went missing.

In the meantime, Robinson is working with an attorney and helping her daughter through the ordeal.

"She still cries," she said. "She gets upset, but she tries to let go because she thinks that hopefully these people will have a heart and give him back."