Woman Fights for Return of Beloved Dog After Medical Crisis, Family Betrayal, and Rescue Controversy

Osceola County, Florida – May 23, 2025

When Liz Bonilla was found unconscious and rushed to the ICU in April, her final act before falling ill was to make sure her beloved dog, Sushi, would be safe. What followed was a heartbreaking series of events involving betrayal by a family member, systemic failure at a local shelter, and a rescue group that refuses to return the emotional support animal Liz has raised since he was a puppy.

While Liz was intubated and hospitalized, Sushi was dropped off at Osceola County Animal Services—without her knowledge or consent—by a family member with whom she had previously severed ties. Although the shelter left Liz a voicemail with an April 26th deadline to reclaim Sushi, they had full knowledge of her hospitalization as noted in Sushi’s intake paperwork.

Liz regained consciousness on April 24th, accessed her phone, and heard the shelter’s message. On April 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th she, along with her nurses and a close friend, made over 30 attempts to contact the shelter. Voicemails were left, yet they were not returned. Finally, on Monday, April 28th Liz got ahold of a staff member who told Sushi had already been adopted out.

Determined to find him, Liz tracked down the rescue through a social media post on May 5th and contacted the organization’s president, Lori Mastrantoni. Instead of compassion, Liz was met with condescension and dismissal. Liz stated, “She laughed at me and said, ‘Good luck getting your dog back.’ ”

According to social media posts, the rescue adopted Sushi out to another family the day after Liz contacted them and has since refused to return him. In an email, Mastrantoni stated:

“There is no way we can get him back from the adopter. This has all been legally done, and I will not sacrifice his well-being. It seems to me that she is emotionally unstable.”

Liz has provided proof of ownership, including microchip registration and veterinary records, and has made multiple attempts to engage civilly with the rescue—all of which have been dismissed.

This isn’t just a legal issue—it’s an ethical one. When shelters and rescues wield unchecked power, it can lead to devastating outcomes for both animals and families. Liz deserved compassion. Instead, she was denied the chance to reunite with her emotional support animal.

Liz’s story raises critical questions:

• Why wasn’t more due diligence done by the shelter before transferring a microchipped dog?

• What ethical obligation do rescues have after receiving clearly owned animals?

• How can vulnerable individuals trust a system that fails them at their most critical moments?

Sushi is a small dog with a big story—and Liz is a woman fighting to be heard. “This was wrong,” she says. “And I’m not backing down.”