Pup Vanishes Into The Freezing Chicago Cold After Slipping Out Of Doggie Daycare
When a dog goes missing, it feels like a piece of your heart has suddenly vanished. You can’t eat, can’t sleep, and every time your phone buzzes, you hope it’s good news.
That’s exactly what life felt like in Chicago several months ago: a city on alert, hearts racing, as people searched for a pup named Minnie.
Minnie isn’t just any dog. She’s the heart of her family, the kind of girl who fills a room with joy just by wagging her tail.
But recently, something unthinkable happened.
While staying at a doggy daycare, PUPS Pet Club in the South Loop, Minnie managed to pull off what can only be described as an escape mission worthy of a movie.
It was 3 a.m., the city asleep under freezing skies, when Minnie somehow opened her crate, pushed through several doors, and slipped out into the cold Chicago night.
Security footage later showed her using her mouth to open one of the doors. Seriously, she’s that smart, before disappearing into the streets near Michigan Avenue and 13th.
Her family, heartbroken but determined, immediately launched a full-scale search. Laura Simpler, Minnie’s mom, shared in an interview:
“She’s there for us when we need her, and we need to be there for her now that she needs us. She’s our heart and soul.”
The temperatures were brutally cold, the kind that cut right through your coat, and every minute mattered. Still, they refused to give up hope.
They imagined her finding a warm corner somewhere, maybe even curling up on a kind stranger’s couch for the night, as Laura said:
“We know that she’s finding herself shelter and warmth, and just praying that someone has hopefully even already found her. Maybe she’s sitting on someone’s couch right now.”
The owner of the daycare, Dan Rubenstein, joined the search too. He and his team have been combing through the South Loop and Grant Park.
They’ve been calling her name, hoping for any sign of movement. Dan shared:
“This is not what we stand for as an organization. We want to take care of dogs, and we want people to be able to trust us, and so we will make the necessary changes and learn from this. Just to know that she’s out there right now in this weather is breaking my heart.”
And they’re not alone. The entire community has come together. People brought flashlights, printed flyers, and even used their own dogs to help sniff out clues.
In a city as big as Chicago, it so touching to see how one lost pup can bring so many people together. Laura shared:
“The whole South Loop community and Chicago at large has had our backs helping, canvassing. People we’ve never met before are bringing out their dogs to come search. It’s a beautiful thing in the sight of this obvious tragedy.”
Minnie is described as a mixed breed with a shiny black coat and white markings on her chest and three of her paws (her front right paw is all black). Sadly, she’s not wearing a collar, which makes spotting her even more important.
Despite the freezing weather and long nights, her family hasn’t stopped searching for a second. Even though months have passed without a single clue, they’re holding onto the belief that Minnie is out there waiting to be rescued.
Anyone in the Chicago area who spots Minnie is asked to reach out to her family immediately at 415-717-6650 or 410-960-1516. Every call could make the difference that brings this little girl home.
