Little Girl Missing Her Therapy Dog In Hollister - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Little Girl Missing Her Therapy Dog In Hollister

HOLLISTER, Calif.-  A 2-year-old girl, who has survived as many heart surgeries, as birthdays, is without her lifeline.  The therapy dog she depends on each day has been missing for weeks. Now, the desperate search for her missing therapy dog, Kaia.

The toddler in Hollister has now gone three weeks without her dog, who on any other night would be sleeping by her side.  We sat down with the family to hear about the frantic search for Kaia.  Her parents said the therapy dog helps their little girl cope with the pain after having surgery.

"Kaia, please come home Kaia," said 2-year-old Ava Craft.

Ava was born with congenital heart defects and depends on this therapy dog to get a good night's sleep.  But 9-month-old Kaia, a German Sheperd, ran off with the other family dog Ted about three weeks ago in Hollister.  The Craft's found Ted, but even though Kaia has her tags, she's still missing.

"The dogs have somehow, someway, found how to get out a few times and this time was different.  They went farther than they ever have," said dad Brandon Craft.

They've posted hundreds of signs like this one all over town, contacted animal shelters and local law enforcement to track her down.  The Crafts are just hoping someone will realize she's precious to a family that's desperately searching for their missing therapy dog.

"Realize that you know, I mean, even if somebody has her and they want to keep her, she has a home, she has a family who misses her," Brandon said.

The two dogs were last seen together on a ridge, running toward a fence just beyond the ridge near the Sunnyslope Water District water towers in Hollister.  The Crafts said they get multiple calls a day from people in the community who have a tip or think they've seen Kaia.  But so far, no luck.

"For her to wake up every morning and ask I mean, she's two, she misses her girl, it's not just a dog to her," Brandon and Erika Craft said.

The Crafts can be contacted by email at Bcraft081210@gmail.com or by phone at 831-245-6990/831-245-5985.