Expensive Show Dog Competing In OKC Is A 'No-Show'

Deanne Stein, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Forget Best in Show, dog owner Audie Canida is just hoping for his sheltie to show back up.

Canida, of Kansas City, brought four dogs down to Oklahoma City this weekend to compete in the annual Summer Classic Dog Show at the Cox Convention Center. However, after Saturday's competition, Paula, one of his beloved AKA show dogs, ran away.

"When she took off in a dead run, she wouldn't even listen to us when we called her," Canida said. "She was just like 'I'm going and not looking back.'"

Canida said they took the dogs to the bathroom outside of the Motel 6 at 820 South Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. He said that's when noise from a construction crew working on the roof of the motel startled Paula, forcing her to jerk free and run.

"She's always lived in the house and the backyard, so she's never had the opportunity (to get out)," Canida said. "This is her first time in the wild, so to speak."

And only her second time to compete in a dog show. In fact, Paula had just showed in the Shetland/Sheepdog competition Saturday before she ran away and finished second out of four dogs in her class.

"She's worth quite a bit of money, she comes from very good pedigree dogs," Canida said. "I'm just a little distraught."

The most important thing to Canida, though, is that his dog is safe. He has contacted the police and is hoping to find a Sheltie rescue organization to help them find her. He has also turned to social media sites such as Facebook to get the word out.

"She loves people but has to warm up to them before she'll come up to you," he said. "I think if I got her in a situation where she would calm down, she'd come to me or at least let me come up to her."

Paula was last seen running behind the Cracker Barrel restaurant on South Meridian.

"We know she scared, she's hungry, she's thirsty and probably hot," he said. "She's a black dog and that sun really bakes down on that black hair."

Paula is a tri-colored female sheltie and has a red leash attached to her white collar. Canida said if anyone sees her, please don't chase her, but instead, call him at (816) 686-3721.