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Upper Burrell family's service dog found

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. — An Upper Burrell family's service dog has been found.

German shepherd Merry had been missing since Friday.  The family contacted Channel 11 for help.  We posted this on Facebook and you shared.

Ronna Hochbein told Channel 11 that she has an adult son with autism. She said her family purchased a German shepherd named Merry specifically trained to be his service dog.
 
"She's a small German shepherd. She's probably 65 pounds. She's full grown, but she's small," Hochbein said.
 
Hochbein said when her family went on vacation, Merry was left at home with a sitter.
 
According to Hochbein, Merry fled from the sitter. Merry was wearing a collar with her name and Hochbein's phone number on it, Hochbein said.

On Tuesday, Channel 11's Pamela Osborne learned that a rescue group found Merry.

Reuniting Dogs with Families set up a trap near the family's home.  Using a rotisserie chicken as bait, a possum was caught.  But then a volunteer spotted Merry on a hillside.

“I talked with the pet sitter, and she was able to coax Merry down with Vienna sausages.  Merry is now happily home,” said volunteer Dawn Weichler.

Volunteers said they learned about the missing dog on WPXI's Facebook page.

WPXI

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