In Orlando, Florida, the Blomqvist family's beloved Australian Shepherd, Elliott, became an irreplaceable part of their lives since he was a puppy. "He’s like a family member," Roger Blomqvist stated. Bella, Roger's daughter, affectionately refers to Elliott as her "little brother."

When Elliott was three and a half years old, the family enrolled him in a three-week, $5,000 obedience training program at K-9 Training Academy in Orlando, following their vet's recommendation. The training started on April 12, and updates were scheduled for every Friday.

Concern arose when the family didn’t receive the expected update on May 3. Later that day, a distressing text from the trainer indicated there was troubling news about Elliott. Bella described feeling a mix of anxiety and dread upon reading the message. The trainer explained that Elliott had attempted to attack his handler, who accidentally released the leash, resulting in Elliott running away.

The family immediately went into action, searching the area, visiting shelters, and engaging with the community through local platforms like Paw Boost and Nextdoor to find Elliott. The situation was complicated by the discovery of posts made by the trainer days earlier than reported, suggesting discrepancies in the timeline communicated to the family.

After an agonizing search, Elliott was finally found near the training facility, thinner and suffering from a fever and severe separation anxiety. Roger Blomqvist expressed deep frustration over the lack of communication from the academy, emphasizing the emotional toll it took on the family. He argued that earlier notification could have mitigated the severity of the situation.

Richard Lherrison, owner and director of K-9 Training Academy, admitted the incident revealed a significant oversight in their facility's security between enclosed areas. He acknowledged the error in judgment regarding communication with the family and emphasized the importance of transparency.

Despite the eventual safe return of Elliott, the ordeal left the family with profound emotional scars and unresolved questions about the events leading to his temporary loss. They continue to seek a full explanation and have not yet received an apology from the training facility, despite their traumatic experience. This lack of follow-through from the academy has only added to their distress, leaving them to wonder about the reliability of the training programs and the competence of those entrusted with their beloved pet's care. The community's support during their search was a silver lining, showing how much others cared and were willing to help during such a stressful time. The family hopes that sharing their story will prompt better practices in pet handling and crisis communication, ensuring no other pet owners have to endure a similar nightmare.