Lost chihuahua ‘Apollo’ found after christmas day escape from pet sitter resulting in a cancelled Hawaiian vacation and 16 days of desperate searching and flyering, mom says: ‘He is such a fighter and it's a miracle he made it home.’

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jan 29, 2026 11:00 AM EST

Every pawrent's worst nightmare is going on vacation and getting a call from the pet sitter saying that their dog has escaped and cannot be found. And that is exactly what happened to a couple on their Hawaiian holiday season vacation, and this is the story of how their chihuahua Apollo was found and brought home.

We could not imagine getting such a call, your heart would drop, your mind would race and your vacation would be instantly wasted. A triple threat of pain and frustration and all because one person could not do the very simple job that they were assigned to do. It is not a massive undertaking to care for someone's canine child while they are away, but this hooman made the fatal mistake of doing exactly what she should not have, resulting in an ample opportunity for our canine crusader to escape.

The ensuing events we will save for the story itself seeing as they are dramatic and enticing enough without needing us to hype them up. But what we will say is that we most certainly hope that this never happens to a pawrent ever again and that if you are to leave a doggo in the care of a sitter, then perhaps to show them this story as a warning of sorts.

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  • 01
    "After 16 long days, Apollo was FOUND."
    via LucyAriaRose
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    On Christmas Day, I received a message from my rover sitter saying my 10lb chihuahua ran from her and he hasn't been found. My husband immediately called her but it was her male friend who answered.
    via LucyAriaRose
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    The story we got from the friend is the rover sitter took both our dogs to her friend's house (never asked for permission to take them away from her residence). The sitter went back out to her car to grab a crate, although we never
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 04
    provided a crate nor are our dogs crate trained, and the male friend spooked my small dog and he bolted out the front door. We have done everything to find him: neon posters, handing out flyers,
    via LucyAriaRose

  • Oh doggy, this is a story that just goes from bad to worse. It is bad enough that you have to receive such a call telling you that your darling doggo whose safety you entrusted to this person is in jeopardy. Added to which is a distance of hundreds if not thousands of miles away from you and some random stranger answering your only point of contact’s phone giving you a story that could be completely phoney for all you know. It is a heartwrenching feeling and one that you simply do not want to ever have to deal with. You would have been better off just leaving your pup on their own.

  • 05
    posted to social media, contacted vets/shelters. I know the sitter has been doing this as well but I can't help but feel so much anger. My dog has been missing for 4 days now and he's extremely small and anxious. It's been in the freezing temps
    via LucyAriaRose
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    here. I have no clue why she took the dogs somewhere else or why she had a crate with her. I even asked what her Christmas plans were and she never mentioned going anywhere. The dogs are able to be left
    via LucyAriaRose
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    alone for a few hours so not sure why they needed to go with her. We were refunded from Rover but lost out on thousands on our trip. We were in Hawaii for 12 hours before getting the
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 08
    message our dog ran away. We booked the next flight home to help with the search. This was supposed to be our romantic baby- moon, I am 23 weeks pregnant and this stress has been miserable. Knowing I need to care for my
    via LucyAriaRose
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    baby is the only thing keeping me eating and drinking water. My family and I are heartbroken and devastated. The grief is so heavy and I keep thinking the worst. I will never trust my dogs to be watched by a non-family member again.
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 10
    UPDATE: still nothing unfortunately. I've taken all suggestions, posted to every place you guys said, searched on foot for 6 days, left out my dirty clothes, and I even have a call with a pet professional today. Like in my last update,
    via LucyAriaRose
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    the scent tracking team did not get back to me and I haven't found another one. Also the drone team advised against it since the area is heavily populated. With tonight being NYE, my hopes are plummeting. He is
    via LucyAriaRose

  • Jheez we really feel for this pupper pawrent. New Year's eve is a stressful enough night for dogs who are in their own homes, let alone a dog who has been lost for more than 6 days all alone and in the cold. With all the fireworks that will be filling the air, every dog in the area is sure to be hanging out in their hidey holes. It is a recipe for making that poor pupper find a hiding spot that they will never be found in. and without the help of all the pawfessionals his mother is trying to bring in, the future is looking bleak…

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    Cheezburger Image 10600663808
    via LucyAriaRose
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    such a scared and anxious boy. Again, no reason to believe the sitter has him. She posted flyers in the only possible sighting spot as soon as she got word and they've tried a food trail back to the friend's house. The hour drive has taken a toll on me
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 14
    physically and mentally, I hate to think he's so far from home. Thank you again for your kindness and suggestions in these comments.
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 15
    UPDATE: Probably the last time I check this since there are no leads on my dog. Apollo is still missing or rather crossed the rainbow bridge. Heartbroken and devastated do not cover my feelings. My husband and I rescued Apollo as a
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 16
    puppy, he was only a year and a half when he ran away. I took all your suggestions: posted on every social media platform, posted flyers, neon signs, talked with neighbors, laid out dirty clothes, but nothing. The drone team said since he ran
    via LucyAriaRose
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    in a populated area, the drone would not be very useful. I reached out to 3 k9 scent tracking teams but two did not service the area and no response from the other. For those saying the sitter stole the dog or sold him, I
    via LucyAriaRose
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    truly do not believe that is the case. She has updated me every night, posted flyers all over, and refunded me the portion that Rover did not. She made a very grave mistake when taking my dogs away from her place and that part is still not
    via LucyAriaRose
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    acceptable. My husband and I did a meet and greet prior to the stay and we selected her because she had no other dogs, no roommates, and no children. We knew Apollo was anxious so we took all the steps
    via LucyAriaRose
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    in order to ensure a safe stay. I am in contact with Rover and possibly a lawyer. I have to believe that wherever Apollo may be, he is happy. He was our baby and will be missed so much.
    via LucyAriaRose
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    Cheezburger Image 10600663296
    via LucyAriaRose
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    Thank you everyone who came back to check this post and was still thinking of my sweet Apollo. He is HOME after 16 long days. He has a long road to
    via LucyAriaRose
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    recovery but the vet has said he is stable. Miracles happen
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 24
    ANOTHER UPDATE: After 16 long days, Apollo was FOUND. This last Friday I received a text with a picture of Apollo crouched by a neighbor's porch. The person recognized him from the flyers and contacted me. Another neighbor was
    via LucyAriaRose
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    able to get him into a crate until I could get there. Although extremely malnourished and skittish, he appears fine all things considered. He's seen the vet twice and has follow up appointments that
    via LucyAriaRose
  • 26
    Rover will cover. Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers, and advice. He is such a fighter and it's a miracle he made it home.
    via LucyAriaRose

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Tags

searching christmas found escape cancelled reddit story pet sitter Hawaii chihuahua dog story desperate apollo mom lost flyer vacation days
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