CBS12 News Team

Bizarre Breakout: Family pet escapes from Boynton veterinarian's office

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- A beloved pet disappears from a local veterinarian's office. The Lake Worth family brought their dog in for surgery. Instead of a call telling them their dog is done, they got a panicked called for help after the dog jumped two fences.

The dog chewed right through the plywood fence, that has since been replaced. The veterinarian says this is the first time in 25 years that something like this has happened. But try telling that to the family that didn't know if they would ever see their dog again.

Robert Hodges/dog owner: My heart sank. It was just the worst feeling. They tell you your dog escaped and we don't have her. We don't know where she is.

A bizarre break out story starts at Colonial Animal Clinic on Gateway Blvd in Boynton Beach. 9-year-old Katie, a Vizsla, arrives for minor surgery around 9:00 Monday morning. Vet techs put her in a fenced-in run out back, six-feet high.

Meghanne Petty/vet tech: We imagine she climbed right up and over.

Then Katie tears through another barrier.

Petty: It was plywood. From here to here and about this high up, completely gone. She chewed. The minute we knew the dog was gone, I called the owner so they knew.

Hodges: She says Mr. Hodges, your dog escaped.

Hodges immediately leaves work and joins in the search.

Hodges: She's like a family member, it was like losing a child. My heart sank and I was so afraid she was going to be hit.

Lost dog posters go up later in the day, still no sign of Katie. It was just this morning that Katie finally arrives back home. Someone driving by finds her along Federal Highway in Boynton Beach and calls the number on the lost dog poster.

Colonial Animal Clinic replaced their gate with something more sturdy. Katie's break-out has also been difficult for the staff here.

Petty: Everyone has been heartbroken about the dog being missing.

For Katie the timing is perfect. She hates storms but doesn't mind them from the safety of her family's back porch.

Hodges: I'm just really happy this turned out good. A real good ending.

The vet's office says the family should have told them Katie could climb but they say that isn't an excuse. They're taking responsibility for the break out.

Wednesday, May 9 2012, 11:37 PM EDT

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