Update, Sept. 18: Hugh has been found safe.
Original story, published Sept. 16:
A veteran who served in Desert Storm is desperate to find the lab mix training to become her service dog.
Hugh, a 2-year-old black lab and pit bull mix, had been training to become a service dog for Jenny Holloway of La Plata, Maryland. But around 8 p.m. Thursday, Holloway dropped his leash, and Hugh got scared and ran away.
Holloway, who uses a wheelchair, served in the U.S. Air Force from 1987 to 2007.
She received Hugh just two weeks ago through the program Dogs for Veterans, which provides dogs to veterans and coaches the vets on how to train them.
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Before he went missing, Hugh's tasks included resting on Holloway, who has PTSD, to help calm her.
Holloway, who also has diabetes, had hoped to train Hugh to alert when her blood sugar is too high or low. Holloway also wants to teach Hugh how to "brace," tightening his body to help her gain stability when trying to sit upright.
But all that is on hold until Hugh is found.
Since he ran off, Hugh has been spotted around the area. He was last seen Tuesday morning near the train tracks by Kent Avenue in La Plata.
The woman who spotted him, Kathy Kelly, said she hadn't been able to get hold of him because he was afraid.
"I just had him for two weeks, and he's always been kind of skittish," said Holloway. "I think he had some abuse in the past because he's scared of brooms."
Holloway said friends will meet at her home late Tuesday afternoon and head to the area where Hugh was last seen. She plans to go into the search with a non-aggressive approach, using his favorite toys to draw him in.
"We're going to make him realize that he didn't do anything wrong and that he's not going to get punished for this," Holloway said. "If you approach him slowly and he doesn't run, he will want to have his belly rubbed."
Hugh has black fur with white patches on his chest and toes. He was wearing a black studded collar and has an AVID microchip with the number 2023043754.
If you have seen Hugh or have any information, please call 202-304-3754.
