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After a month on the run, a dog was found after a pet transporter lost the pooch in Mesa.
The owner of the dog says she feels disrespected by what happened, and the transporter says the dog wouldn't cooperate while in the process of being transported to another state.
The dog, Flex, was found with a lot of injuries and had surgery, thanks to a local rescue group offering help.
Flex's injuries came from a month on the run, missing and in search of his parents. Aaronessa Keaton says her dog was playful, but now he's lost that energy.
"I knew he was still out there because he’s a fighter," Keaton said. "He’s a fighter."
On Nov. 6, they used a website to connect with a transporter to ship the now injured dog from Phoenix to Oakley, California. Jason Pede was the transporter, and he said right away, Flex couldn't calm himself, so they stopped to give him a walk in Mesa.
"Tried to give it food and water. Wasn’t having that. Tried to put it back in the truck, and now we’re getting to where it’s trying to snip and bite at me," Pede said. "So I tried to be as patient as I could, but I’d grab it, it would bite at me. I'd get back like this, and then it would bite at me again. Then, we got out of sequence. Once we got out of sequence, he was able to go."
Keaton says she doesn't believe her dog would bite at someone.
Ultimately, Pede says Flex ran off and was nowhere to be found.
"I could only imagine. Well, put yourself in my shoes. I have to call and tell you, a dog lover, and I’m a dog lover, that I lost your dog. So put that in perspective. It’s a little rough," Pede said.
Keaton doesn't know how this could happen.
"I cried. I freaked out because how are you going to lose an animal you’re transporting? How?" Keaton said.
After a month-long search, someone found Flex and dropped him off at the Arizona Humane Society.
"Whoever you are, thank you," Keaton said. "Thank you for saving my baby."
He was severely wounded, and his leg needed to be amputated. She didn't have the money for it, but then, Humane Animal Rescue and Trapping Team (HARTT) fronted the money and is asking for donations to recoup the cost.
"I freaked out and cried because it’s like a blessing. It’s literally a blessing they’re helping us with all this," Keaton said.
Pede says this was not intentional and that he tried his best. She's upset though and is seeking legal help.
Flex's surgery was a success and is recovering at home.
If you'd like to donate to Flex's surgery costs, you can click here. Make sure to type in "Flex" so the organization knows where you'd like your donation to go.
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