PHOENIX — A Phoenix man is pleading for help finding his service dog after the two were unexpectedly separated on his recent trip to the hospital.
Since the day Robert Panzarella brought Angelo home, he and his dog have been inseparable.
“He is the sweetest, friendliest little guy you’ve ever met in your life," Panzarella said.
The miniature pincher is more than his companion, he's a service animal trained to wake Panzarella when sleep apnea stops his breathing in the middle of the night.
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“He would sleep right here on my shoulder and if I stopped breathing, he’d wake me up immediately," Panzarella said.
For the past 12 days, Panzarella has been sleeping alone and Angelo is nowhere to be found.
"All I know is I want my little boy back," Panzarella said. "I need him back. I love that little boy more than you can imagine."
Panzarella last saw Angelo in the Walmart parking lot near Tatum Boulevard and Bell Road while Phoenix Fire Department paramedics loaded him into an ambulance.
He told 12News that the paramedics would not let Angelo stay with him.
“He told me, 'We don’t transport dogs,' and there were just some people standing there and he said, 'Anybody here able to watch this guy’s dog until he gets out of the hospital,'" Panzarella said. "This one guy came forward and said, 'Yeah, I'll do it.'"
Panzarella said he got in touch with the man days later only to learn he had taken Angelo to a park near 40th Street and Bell Road, where he claimed the dog ran away.
Panzarella is anxious for any information about his dog's whereabouts, but said the stranger hasn't been helpful.
“'I gave you all the information I can. What else do you want from me? I’m over it and have my own life to live,'" Panzarella read from the last message he received from the man.
The Phoenix Fire Department told 12News they're aware of the incident.
The Phoenix Police Department Property Crime Unit is investigating.
“I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I’ve been going through with this," Panzarella said.
Panzarella, his friends and volunteers are searching from sun up to sun down hoping Angelo will come home safe and sound.
“For six years, he’s been my best friend, my closest companion, my protector," Panzarella said. "There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him because I know there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me.”
Anyone with information about Angelo are asked to call 602-690-8703 or email jtpanz@yahoo.com.
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