UPDATE: The family said late Sunday that Ovie was spotted on Saturday and Sunday at mile marker 50 and I-85. Once on north side and once on south side. Animal control believes she is sleeping in that area. Kaylee and her father will be back out there around noon Monday to look for her again.
DINWIDDIE, Va. -- Dozens of people in Dinwiddie County are searching frantically for the dog a Gloucester woman said flew out of her car during a wreck on Interstate 85 earlier this week.
Kaylee Oliver said she was driving with her brother to her home on the Eastern Shore on Monday afternoon when her 10-month-old Chocolate Lab, Ovie, jumped up into the SUV's front seat.
The dog distracted Oliver, she lost control of the vehicle and it barrel-rolled down the northbound lanes of the interstate near mile marker 50 just after the Dewitt exit.
"Right before we flipped, she fell out of the passenger window," Oliver said fighting back tear.
That was the last time she saw her beloved Ovie.
Kaylee and her relatives spent Monday evening searching for the dog.
Oliver and her boyfriend returned to Dinwiddie County on Friday to continue the search, hand out flyers and talk with those who lives and works nearby hoping for good news.
"This is probably the toughest thing I've ever had to go through," Oliver said.
"Thanks so much for all of your support for my niece. She is heartbroken about her dog and has done nothing but cry for two days. After surviving her vehicle flipping over several times she really could use a happy ending," Lisa Rasmussen posted on the CBS 6 News Facebook page late Friday.
Alvin Langley, Chief Warden for Dinwiddie County Animal Control, said seeing the young couple out looking is motivation for his group.
Animal control officers fanned out across the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ovie .
Langley said the couple did everything right, in terms of making sure anyone who finds her knows who she belongs to. The couple had Ovie up-to-date on rabies shots and her tag attached to her collar. They also had a micro-chip installed.
Langley told the couple to not give up hope because a dog lost on a trip last year was found safe and sound three weeks later.
If you see Ovie, call Dinwiddie County Animal Control at 804-469-3755.
