Dog, Miami County man have been reunited

UPDATE @ 5:29 p.m.: Romeo has been reunited with Larry Mason, earlier than scheduled.

UPDATE @ 9:55 a.m. (April 29): After going missing and being adopted by a new family, a Miami County dog is going back to his former owner.

Romeo will be returned to Larry Mason on Saturday, according to the acting director of the Miami County animal shelter.

FIRST REPORT (April 23):

A Bethel Twp. man, whose runaway retriever was picked up by animal control, wants the dog back.

Problem is, Romeo had no identification on him when Miami County Animal Shelter staff scooped him up April 14 from a township resident who found the dog and couldn’t locate the owner.

The capture occurred one day after the dog Larry Mason said he has had for more than 11 years bolted. Romeo had run off before, Mason said, but always returned.

This time, shelter official Debbie Hale said, the dog was detained for the required three days and had his photo published on the shelter website.

When the owner didn’t show, Romeo was adopted out April 18.

Mason found out about the adoption after the transaction and was told by shelter workers that adoption rules prevent them from telling him who adopted Romeo.

Mason is working with a county commissioner and is hoping Romeo’s new family contacts him. He wants to try to fashion an agreement to reunite with the dog he said he obtained when the dog was left behind by people.