Dog rescued after getting stuck on roof of Citadel Mall
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A Colorado Springs woman is calling it nothing short of a miracle - after her missing dog was found in one of the last places anyone would expect: the roof of the Citadel Mall.
Lila, a six-year-old rescue dog, disappeared nearly a week ago when her owner, Melanie Weseman, stepped away for a short lunch.
"My husband and I were having lunch for about 30 minutes at Fargo's Pizza… came out, and she had gotten out of the truck… and she was gone," Weseman told KRDO13.
From that moment, Melanie says she tried everything - posting on social media, contacting shelters, and driving around searching day after day.
"It was devastating. It was beyond devastating," she said. "She comes with me just about everywhere."
Lila had been with Melanie since 2021 - the same year her first husband passed away. Melanie says the dog became her emotional anchor and even greets clients at her business, Citadel Realty.
So when she got an email from the Humane Society nearly a week later saying, “We think we found your dog,” she rushed over - and quickly burst into tears when they confirmed it.
"The minute that she came running down the hall… she jumped on me… I was just sobbing," she said. "Life is now complete again."
But what stunned Melanie most was where Lila was found - on the roof of the Citadel Mall.
"I truly have no idea how she got up there," she said. "She can jump very, very high, but I don’t think she can jump that high."
Animal law enforcement officers safely rescued Lila, gave her water, and carried her down on a stretcher before reuniting her with Melanie.
Now, Melanie says she’s taking no chances moving forward.
"She was microchipped, and she has a collar… But if I’m going to have her in a car, I’ve already bought a safety harness," she said.
Though how Lila got to the rooftop remains a mystery, Melanie credits the Humane Society, animal law enforcement, and the support of the community for bringing her beloved dog back.
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