Community Corner

Did Lucha Survive Muddy Paws?

Former foster seeks whereabouts of microchipped Chihuahua who lived at site of Muddy Paws tragedy.

The former foster parent of a Chihuahua adopted by Diane Eldrup, owner of Muddy Paws, is seeking information to determine what happened to the dog, Lucha.

Lucha was one of the personal pets and the kennel “greeter” at Muddy Paws, in Deer Park, where 17 dogs and three birds were discovered dead in December, among squalid conditions. Eldrup faces 32 counts of animal cruelty and animal torture.

Lucha was microchipped by the Chihuahua Rescue and Transport and was not among the dead dogs.

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“I just want Lucha back. If Lucha shows up in rescue, I want her back so she can live the rest of her days with me,” said Janice Robinson, who works with Chihuahua Rescue.

When Lucha came to foster parent Robinson in 2006, the dog had already had a tough life.

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“She came from a puppy mill where she had two litters a year,” said Robinson, of Marshall, Minn. Lucha was missing teeth due to inadequate care at the puppy mill.

Lucha had a rescue companion, Frieda, who was quickly adopted.

Robinson had Lucha for nine months when Eldrup applied to adopt her.

“The rescue group is very strict. A friend of mine did a home visit and she had a glowing review of the home,” Robinson said.

At a pet expo in 2007, Robinson met Eldrup and was impressed. Since Eldrup was already approved as an adoptive parent, Lucha went home with her.

Robinson thought she had found the perfect match. Lucha, unlike most Chihuahuas, loved children, and Eldrup had a young son, Tyler.

“For the next year and a half, I would get e-mails and pictures form Diane at least once a week,” Robinson recalled.

When Robinson came back to the area in 2007, she visited Muddy Paws and Eldrup.

“The place was in immaculate condition. She showed me all through the boarding facility and I watched her and Tyler play,” Robinson said. “I remember Tyler was the cutest kid in the world. He loved that dog; she loved him so much.”

Robinson said everyone she spoke to in the pet world had good things to say about Eldrup, and Eldrup did fundraising for the Chihuahua rescue group. Lucha was even featured as one of the success stories in the Chihuahua Rescue and Transport website. Robinson lost touch with Eldrup over the past year and a half.

Then, on New Years Day, Robinson sat down at her computer to catch up on some of her rescue dogs that had been adopted.

“I put Diane’s name in the computer and this horrible news popped up. This was not the Diane I knew. I was frantic and decided to search for Lucha,” Robinson said.

Robinson has received help from Kim Clark, of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, in her search for Lucha.  Clark has been gathering information for the criminal case, since she has a background in pet rescue work. The reports on Lucha’s whereabouts have been conflicting.

“I could tell you 10 different stories,” Clark said. “When you hear so many different stories, your antenna goes up that maybe there’s something dishonest.”

Reportedly, at her first court date, Eldrup said all four of her personal dogs were dead. Clark said Diane Eldrup told the court her dogs had medical conditions and died under veterinary care.

According to another report, Lucha, Nina, a Papillion; and Bea, an elderly Chihuahua, died from a reaction to a shot they received at the veterinarian’s office. According to one report, the dogs died in 2009.

Clark has not been able to find any veterinary records of the dogs’ deaths.

Robinson spoke to a canine massage therapist who saw Lucha as recently as spring of 2010.

Robinson continues to hope that Lucha is alive, because the microchip has not been returned to the Chihuahua rescue.

“I wish we could figure out what happened to Lucha for her, because not knowing is so hard,” said Clark.

“If Lucha is dead, I want to know what she died of. I want to know she didn’t suffer. I won’t be able to put this to bed until I know,” Robinson said.

“I can’t believe Diane would let something happen to the dog her child loved so much,” she said.


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