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Shelby, the Boxer with cancer who went missing in Tampa, has been found safe

 
Shelby, a 4-year-old Boxer mix who was being treated for cancer when she escaped from BluePearl Veterinary Partners hospital in Tampa last week, was found on Tuesday. [Courtesy of BluePearl Veterinary Partners]
Shelby, a 4-year-old Boxer mix who was being treated for cancer when she escaped from BluePearl Veterinary Partners hospital in Tampa last week, was found on Tuesday. [Courtesy of BluePearl Veterinary Partners]
Published May 24, 2017

TAMPA — Shelby has been found.

The 4-year-old Boxer mix was undergoing cancer treatments when she slipped away from BluePearl Veterinary Partners hospital on May 17, sparking a nearly weeklong search.

She was located Tuesday afternoon, according to Blue Pearl, found huddled underneath a car at a used car dealership less than two miles away.

Aside from a fracture to her left front leg, Shelby was otherwise unharmed.

"For a dog who's been through what she's been through, she's doing pretty well," Dr. Miryam Reems, who is overseeing Shelby's treatment at BluePearl, said in a statement.

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According to Blue Pearl, an employee at Tampa Bay Auto Land, 9900 N Dale Mabry Highway, saw Shelby (the dealership is about 1.5 miles away from the veterinarian's office.) The dealership employee called a friend, who had seen one of the many signs posted in the area seeking help to find Shelby.

The friend told the dealership employee to check Facebook and confirmed that the dog was indeed Shelby. The employee then contacted a BluePearl hospital in Tampa, and some veterinary employees drove over to the dealership to pick up Shelby.

"All of us at BluePearl are ecstatic we were able to help Shelby be reunited with her family," practice manager Courtney Dyson said in a statement. "As pet lovers, this was difficult on all of us. We're so pleased to have such a happy ending."