A Fairfield woman is looking for her dog who went missing in the care of a pet sitter while she was on vacation.

Lucy Freitas says her 15-year-old dog Bella got away from her sitter on Christmas Day and has been missing ever since.

Freitas is encouraging people to use a professional sitter with a good reputation, and to get references.

But she says after this experience, she herself will never use a sitter again.

"I would travel with my dog, for sure. I would never let her with anybody anymore," she says. "Once you have a pet and really care about it, it really becomes part of your family so you have to be very careful, like, with your kids you're not leave your kids with anyone on the street or any baby sitter, you have to make sure you know the person, but you'll never be able to prevent what can happen."

A local pet sitter not connected to the case says there are many excellent care providers, owners just need to select one carefully.

Bella was last seen near High Ridge and Park avenues in Bridgeport.