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Woman says Jacksonville shelter shipped her lost puppy to Gainesville rescue

When she called Animal Care and Protective Services, they confirmed that Bruno had been dropped off Tuesday but they no longer had him.
Credit: Family of Bruno

A Jacksonville woman is heartbroken after she says her beloved puppy, Bruno, was shipped to another city after being lost for a few days.

Meshia Terrell says she left her puppy in the care of a friend when he ran away. 

Terrell panicked, she says. She quickly began calling around to local shelters to see if her puppy had been dropped off. When Terrell called Animal Care and Protective Services, they confirmed Bruno had been dropped off Tuesday but it no longer had him. Bruno was microchipped in their care, then shipped to Gainesville to an organization called Faithful Friends Pet Rescue and Rehoming.

Terrell was devastated.

She says tried reaching out to the organization multiple times but initially had had no luck getting in touch with anyone. Faithful Friends Pet Rescue told First Coast News it did receive an email from Terrell and responded the following day, letting her know they'd be happy to reunite her with her puppy along with information on how to do so.

However, Terrell says the organization is hosting an adoption event at a Petsmart in Gainesville on Saturday and she has no other option but to drive there Friday afternoon to try to find her Bruno before he gets adopted.

Animal Care and Protective Services says unidentified stray dogs greater than six months of age require a six-day hold period, however, owner surrenders and stray animals less than six months don't require a hold period.

Terrell says she has to pay $80 to re-adopt Bruno; $40 for the application and $40 for the adoption fee. However, Faithful Friends Pet Rescue and Rehoming responded to First Coast News and said the organization is only charging her $40 to cover the cost of transfer and supplies.

"They told me it's usually $200 plus for adoption but for this circumstance, they won't apply the fees," she said. "I guess they're doing us a favor ... It's worth it to get my baby back."

*Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the dog was microchipped by the owner.

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