Castle Rock family longs for miniature husky’s return

An annual tradition went awry for a Castle Rock family whose dog escaped from a veterinarian during a spring break vacation.

Craig and Melanie LeGrotte hope a cash reward helps net the return of their beloved miniature husky, Jack, which bolted from the care of a Castle Rock veterinarian while in a post-surgical panic.

Jack went missing on March 27, interrupting the LeGrottes’ traditional ski vacation in Beaver Creek. The Alaskan klee kai, at 6 months old, was recovering from hernia and neutering surgery when he escaped while on a morning walk with his caretakers at the Cherished Companions Animal Hospital at 281 Metzler Drive.

Jack eluded his caretakers for the next 90 minutes, eventually disappearing in a field east of the Woodlands neighborhood east of Castle Rock, Melanie LeGrotte said. By the time the family made the two-hour return drive to Castle Rock, Jack was gone.

LeGrotte and her husband are offering a reward for his safe return. Jack was a family Christmas gift in 2011 and the first pet for the LeGrottes’ 9-year-old daughter Briana.

“(Briana) has actually been very brave about it and she has really been more of the rock in the family than we are,” Melanie LeGrotte said. “She’s been the one that’s telling us ‘he’s going to be OK we’re going to find him.’ My husband and I have been losing it over several hours. We are very, very heartbroken and upset that he is still out there.”

Jack is protective of the family and is shy around strangers, Melanie LeGrotte said. He is excitable with other dogs, energetic and is a cat-friendly animal, she said. He is about 14 inches high at the shoulder, weighs 15 pounds, has traditional husky markings and has brown eyes.

Jack is described as an intelligent animal and a “very fast” runner, Melanie LeGrotte said. He will likely respond better to luring with treats than to yelling, she said.

The LeGrottes are working with local law enforcement agencies in hopes of finding Jack and have received reports they believe are false attempts to collect money from the family. Jack has a microchip and the family will show their gratitude for his safe return with a cash reward, Melanie LeGrotte said. To report a sighting or to return Jack to the LeGrotte family, call 720-235-9093 or send an email to lilbsmom@msn.com.