A joyful reunion took place Wednesday night when Betty Lou, a small dog who went missing from a Petco grooming appointment in Lakewood, was found after a week-long search.
The 6-year-old dog was discovered hiding in bushes near Lakewood and Del Amo boulevards, according to owner Aubree Booher. Betty Lou had escaped during what was meant to be a routine grooming session at the local Petco store.
The incident occurred last Thursday when store staff accidentally brought Betty Lou out to greet another customer whose dog looked similar. "When my dog saw that it wasn't me or my mom, I guess she got scared," Booher explained. "She backed out of their leash and was able to get past everybody and ran out the store."
After spending a week on the streets without food or water, Betty Lou was found in rough condition with injuries to her leg and belly. A Good Samaritan spotted the dog and contacted the Lakewood Petco, who then notified Booher.
The reunion was emotional for the entire family. "She immediately jumped on me, and I grabbed her. I just broke down. I started crying, my mom and my brother, everybody just started crying," Booher shared.
Petco has offered to cover Betty Lou's medical expenses and will provide a $2,000 reward to the person who found her. While Booher expressed gratitude for the store's role in reuniting her with Betty Lou, she indicated they would not return for future grooming services due to the traumatic experience.
When asked about preventive measures for similar incidents, a manager at the Lakewood Petco location confirmed Betty Lou's recovery but declined to comment on future protocol changes.
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