Owner asks for help locating missing service dog from Scituate

SCITUATE, R.I. (WLNE) — A service dog of a Scituate resident was reported missing earlier this week.

On Wednesday, Melissa Devargas spoke with ABC6 News about the missing, and possibly stolen emotional support animal.

Melissa identified her pup, a one-year-old “English Cream” Golden Retriever named Aladdin.

She told ABC6 News that Aladdin ran away while his co-owner watched him near their home on Scituate Avenue Monday afternoon.

The “Fi” branded GPS tracking collar on Aladdin was active at the time that Aladdin ran away. It was then Melissa said, they started the search.

In time-stamped screenshots from the GPS collar’s tracking app, Melissa was able to follow Aladdin from their home to the area of Byron Hill Road in Scituate at 3:04 p.m.

Aladdin’s location then moved to the corner of Mt. Hygeia Road and the Danielson Pike in Foster roughly 10 minutes later at 3:14 p.m.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., Melissa said she activated “Lost Dog Mode” on the GPS collar, which activates a flashing red light and updates the location of the collar every minute, according to the Fi webpage.

Aladdin’s location was pinged roughly eight miles past the Connecticut border on the John Davis Lodge Highway that runs parallel to Route-6 in South Killingly, Connecticut.

Melissa Vargas shared these screenshots of the first three locations Aladdin was pinged after he ran away.

At approximately 5:20 p.m., Melissa said she located Aladdin’s collar in the woods, further down the John Davis Lodge Highway in South Killingly.

According to GPS coordinates provided by Melissa, Aladdin traveled a distance of about 20 miles, crossed the Rhode Island, Connecticut border and has not been seen since.

Melissa Devargas shared these photos of the location where the collar was found and the collar itself.

Melissa filed a police report with Rhode Island State Police, stating she believes Aladdin was stolen because of the distance the collar travelled and because she believes the dog would not have been able to remove the collar by himself.

ABC6 News reached out to state police for comment on their role in any investigations regarding Aladdin’s disappearance but have yet to hear back.

Melissa created a Facebook group called “Find Aladdin” to share photos and developing information on Aladdin’s whereabouts.

Anyone with information regarding Aladdin’s location or anyone who may have seen him in any of the named areas should submit their information through the Facebook group.

Rhode Island State Police at Lincoln barracks can be contacted with information at (401) 444-1000.