Only on 8: Emotional owner reunited with her lost pet

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) – It was an emotional reunion between a dog owner and her 4-legged best friend in Pinellas County on Friday.

The woman became heartbroken and overcome with worry early Friday morning when her 10-year-old, miniature Australian Shepard bolted out of the vet’s office and no one knew if they’d ever see him again.

Rocko, the miniature Australian Shepard, who went missing for hours Friday

Fortunately, Rocko’s owner, Kritisi Johnson, found him hours later, but 8 On Your Side wanted to know how a trip to the vet could giver Rocko’s mom the scare of a lifetime.

Kristi took Rocko to Banfield Pet Hospital which is located inside the PetSmart on U.S. 19 on Wednesday to have a tumor removed. She’s been there many times before and has never had any problem. Then on Friday morning, she took him in for a follow-up visit and before she went back to pick him up she received a call from them telling her, “there was an incident.”

Rocko bolted out the front door. How? Banfield Pet Hospital wouldn’t say but once Rocko made it out the front door he could have wound up on busy U.S. 19. A man inside the store at the time, who would only identify himself as Bill, told us, “Somebody goes, lock the door, lock the door and the poor dog went running by me and out the front door.”

Then the search was on. Store and hospital employees began searching for Rocko but it would take another hour for the hospital to call Kristi. Still, no one knows what caused that delay.

Kristi, her friends, neighbors, along with store and hospital employees, searched the Countryside area for hours. After hours roaming the streets and miles and miles away from the vet, only News Channel 8 cameras were there as Johnson reunited with her four-legged friend with tears of joy running down her face.

Kristi remembered how she kept thinking the worst. “I kept sitting on sides of roads balling my eyes out,” she recalled. But they didn’t just search the streets. They also posted flyers.

“It’s my neighbor’s dog and he’s a wonderful little dog,” said one woman who passed them out to anyone who would take them.

We spoke with Kristi’ sister just minutes before Rocko was found. “He’s definitely part of the family so it’s devastating for everybody right now,” she said with a heavy sigh.

But moments later, News Channel 8 cameras zeroed in as all of a sudden a handful of neighbors began yelling his name. They spotted him but Rocko took off. He was frightened but then, the moment everyone had been waiting for. Kristi ran to Rocko, picked him up, and kissed him while a vet employee poured water in a bowl so Rocko could get hydrated.

Tonight, Kristi has Rocko back but still has many questions.

“What happened should have never, ever occurred here,” she said emphatically. “He won’t be staying here tonight no matter what. He will be in my arms, my bed tonight. Yeah, we’ll have a good night’s sleep.”

Banfield Pet Hospital sent News Channel 8 this statement regarding the incident:

“At Banfield Pet Hospital we have strict policies in place regarding the handling of pets in and around our hospital. In the case of Rocko, we are working to fully understand how he got loose and will take necessary steps to help ensure it never happens again. We do know that once Rocko exited the hospital, our associates immediately began their search and notified authorities. We are very happy that Rocko was found, is safe and has been reunited with his family.”OTHER TOP CLICKED STORIES PEOPLE ARE CLICKING ON: