UPDATE:
Unleashed Pet Rescue recently turned to Facebook Live to share their side of the now-viral story of Capone the dog (see original post below). In the video, Reno sits beside Capone, who has been renamed Benedict. He looks nothing like the photos Palacio shared because over half his body is covered in red, irritated skin. It’s clear that he has severe allergies that were not being properly treated.
In the video, Reno details what really went down with Palacio and why she will not return the dog to her.
Reno explains that Capone/Benedict was found as a stray, and when scanned for a microchip, the associated phone numbers were disconnected. But since he had been adopted from Unleashed, the rescue still had Palacio’s email. They decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and reach out to her even though Reno suspects Palacio has neglected his vet care for months.
The poor pup was covered in a yeast infection. Even his collar was so caked in yeast that it couldn’t be fully cleaned.
Palacio called the rescue after receiving the email, and they alerted her of a fee and asked for vet records. According to Reno, Palacio grew angry and started swearing at the staff member on the phone. She provided vet records, but they indicated that the dog hadn’t been to the vet in 11 months. There was also no record of him receiving medication for his skin since 2019.
Due to these red flags, Reno refused to release Capone back to Palacio.
“So, the owner is contacting news agencies, they’re doing stories, they say that they want their dog back. They have said he’s a family pet, they have used a small child, that the child misses the dog,” said Reno. “Guys, all of this, if they love the dog, if you care for the dog, would you let him itch himself bloody? He literally has scratched himself bloody.”
The rescue is currently treating the dog for all his skin irritation. These allergic reactions aren’t just something that happened overnight; they’ve taken months of neglected vet care to build up. So, while Palacio claims to have his allergies under control, all the evidence says otherwise. Thankfully, Capone/Benedict is currently getting the treatment he deserves.
Watch Reno’s Full Response Here:
Original Post 4/15/21
If you’ve lost a dog before, you know the sigh of relief you feel when they’re found. But imagine what would happen if you knew where your lost dog was, but couldn’t get them back.
That’s what Kansas dog parent Jessica Palacio faced. Her dog Capone got lost on March 31st, and she searched everywhere for him. Then, Unleashed Pet Rescue, where she had adopted him, found him and told her to come pick him up. But when she did, the rescue refused to return Capone. The exact reasoning is still unclear, but it seems like there’s a lot more to the story.
Mixed Messages
Palacio first received an email from the rescue on Easter. It stated that they found her lost dog and that there would be some fees to get him back. They were able to confirm that Capone was her dog because of his microchip. Palacio was ecstatic, so she brought the fees to the rescue to get her dog back.
But when she arrived, the response was the opposite of the email. Staff told her that her dog wasn’t available. When Palacio begged for her dog back and refused to leave, the police got involved. Now, Palacio is not allowed to enter the premises.
“They said he is not available…I mean, I got like 15 different stories as to why I couldn’t take my dog,” Palacio said. “When I had to go home and tell my daughter we couldn’t get the dog back she was upset because that’s her baby. He’s everybody’s baby, you know?”
Palacio contacted the rescue’s owner, Danielle Reno, several times with no success. She even sent other people to the rescue to get answers about her dog. But for some reason, the staff are very adamant about keeping Capone. Palacio is overly worried because Capone suffers from extreme allergies this time of year.
Looking for Answers
Reno still hasn’t come forward to share her side of the story, but she gave a few details when asked. She explained that Palacio had neglected Capone, but then said that she’s gone “above and beyond” to return him to his family. The details of this potential neglect are unclear, but there may be more to this situation than Palacio is saying.
Palacio said that she was told she could apply to adopt Capone again, but that’s the only way she can get him back. And since Reno thinks she’s neglecting the dog, it’s unlikely they’d even approve her adoption application. So, Palacio’s family is currently in a difficult and frustrating situation.
“Just give me back my dog,” Palacio said. “I don’t understand why this is a hard issue for you guys. I guess they thought I would give up by now, but I’m going to fight, I want my dog home.”
Hopefully, Reno will speak up soon to clarify some things. It seems as if a lot of information about the situation still isn’t being talked about. But no matter what, it looks like both parties will continue to stand their ground. Hopefully, the final decision ends up being whatever is best for Capone.
H/T: fox4kc.com
Featured Image: Screenshots, fox4kc.com
