Miami Family Says Dog Sitter Won’t Give Back Their Son’s Poodle — Seven Months Later, Lucy Is Still Gone

A Miami family says what was supposed to be temporary care for their young poodle has turned into a seven-month fight to get her back.

Hanna Bustos told Local 10 that her family entrusted Lucy to a woman who came highly recommended as a dog boarder and operates a dog-breeding business.

Lucy never came home.

Bustos said the sitter has since made her position explicit: she does not intend to return the dog. The family says Lucy belongs to their 14-year-old son, who received the poodle as a gift and described her as his best friend.

Seven months later, the Bustos family says it has filed two reports with the Miami Police Department and hired an attorney while trying to get Lucy back.

Not Coming Home

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Bustos told the station she explained to the sitter what Lucy’s absence was doing to her children. According to Bustos, the woman responded, “I am not giving her up.”

Bustos also said she told the sitter that she is preparing to undergo chemotherapy and that her children were struggling without the dog.

That did not change the answer, according to Bustos. She said the sitter expressed sympathy but told her it did not change her decision.

The family’s account leaves the dispute in an unusual place. They say police reports have been filed, but Local 10 did not report any arrest or criminal charge related to Lucy’s continued absence. The family has also retained an attorney for help pursuing the matter through civil court.

Still With Her

Local 10 went to the sitter’s home in southwestern Miami-Dade County Saturday night. Dogs could be heard barking inside, but the woman did not answer the station’s questions about Lucy.

Roger Bustos described the family’s children continuing to ask when the dog is coming home. Their 14-year-old son became emotional while talking about her on camera.

For now, the family’s campaign is built around one request: bring Lucy home. Seven months after they say they temporarily handed over their son’s puppy, they are still trying to make that happen.