ST. LOUIS — A search is underway in Missouri for an endangered dog last seen in the St. Louis area missing since Friday.
He was last seen in West County near Laude around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, the owners said.
5 On Your Side talked to one of the owners, Mason Miller, who said he loves dogs and his daughter more than anything.
"Tito was joining our family to replace a dog we lost earlier in the year," Miller said. "It was my daughter's best friend. She grew up with him in COVID, it was the only other person she knew besides family."
After losing their first dog, Miller reached out to the American Kennel Club, where he met a family looking to find a new home for their Otterhound.
"When they heard our story, they offered to let us retire Tito to our farm," he said.
He said Tito is the perfect new best friend for his daughter, Stella.
"The first time Stella and Tito met, they were perfect for each other," he said. "He walked right up to her, and started kissing her all over."
Miller said Tito has been seen in a few places in West St. Louis County, but he's still on the loose.
Otterhounds are one of the rarest breeds of dogs and are almost extinct. There are estimated less than 600 left in the world, making them rarer than a white rhino or giant panda.
One of the 600 left in the world recently moved to St. Louis from Ohio, escaping from his new home 15 minutes after arriving.
"Tito" is an AKC Champion Otterhound, weighing well over 100 pounds and standing over 30 inches tall. He was bred and shown by AKC Breeders of the Year.
Otterhounds are known for their sense of smell, they can track down animals through water for over 72 hours. They can also swim great distances in chilly water due to their webbed feet and a double coat of fur.
Their owners believe it is Tito's sense of smell that may have caused him to escape, following scents. They believe he can be traveling over 10 miles a day.
There have been flyers posted and searchers across the St. Louis area have walked miles trying to spot Tito. Others from different states have also joined in on the search.
His owners ask if spotted, searchers are encouraged to immediately text his exact location to 859-475-8418 and to not try to capture Tito, but instead, follow him calmly.
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