Three weeks after her beloved dog Mongo disappeared, model and actress Sara Sampaio is still hoping for a miracle. The 33-year-old star, known for her roles in the Superman reboot and her time as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, has been publicly documenting her emotional struggle following Mongo’s disappearance on April 28.
Gone Without a Trace
Mongo, a small and friendly dog described as exceptionally sweet, went missing from Sampaio’s fenced backyard in Los Angeles. Despite the safety of his home, he managed to escape the enclosed area and has not been seen since. On April 29, Sampaio took to Instagram with a desperate plea:
“HELP!!!! REWARD! No questions asked! Please help, Mongo escaped our fence and we can’t find him. We are desperate to find him.”
Sampaio has since offered a $10,000 reward for Mongo’s safe return, hoping the financial incentive will bring forward anyone who may have seen or picked him up. She continues to stress that no questions will be asked if he is returned.
An Outpouring of Effort
The search to find Mongo has been exhaustive. Sampaio, along with hired professionals and volunteers, has used every resource available in her attempt to locate him.
“We tried everything we could to find him, we posted everywhere, made flyers, got sniffing dogs, hired professionals, animal communicators — you name it, we did it,” she explained in her latest Instagram post on May 20.
She also issued specific guidance to residents in Los Angeles, particularly near Ellington Drive and the Hollywood Hills area, asking them to check their security cameras and not to chase Mongo if spotted.
“He’s probably scared and hiding… PLEASE DON’T CHASE AFTER HIM,” she wrote. “Trying to keep movement in that area to a minimum to see if he feels safe to come out and doesn’t run away into other areas.”
A Pain That’s Hard to Process
As the days have passed, Sampaio’s posts have grown more emotional, revealing the devastating impact Mongo’s disappearance has had on her mental health. She admitted that May 19 — the one-year anniversary of bringing Mongo home — was especially difficult.
“It’s been 3 weeks and the worst weeks of my life,” she shared alongside the last photo she took with Mongo. “He’s my baby. I had such a deep bond with him from the second I got to hold him for the first time… he saved me in so many ways.”
Sampaio candidly expressed her struggle with balancing hope and grief.
“How do you grieve and still hold hope? How do you move on with your life when everything just feels unimportant and trivial? I don’t know, trying to figure that out still.”
She also addressed the harsh reality she is starting to face:
“I’m coming to terms with my own limitations and how little control I have, and that there’s a possibility I’ll never see him again. That has been extremely hard to process.”
“Please Just Give Him Back”
Despite everything, Sampaio hasn’t given up. In a heart-wrenching plea posted to her Instagram story, she wrote:
“I really just want my baby back. In the possibility someone picked him up, please just give him back.”
The search continues to gain support, with fellow celebrities and fans rallying behind her. Superman director James Gunn commented with a heartfelt “We’re here for you, Sara,” and model Jasmine Tookes wrote, “Mongo, come home!!! 🥹🥹🥹.”
A Lasting Love, No Matter the Outcome
Sampaio ended what she said will likely be her last public update on Mongo with a touching message directly to him:
“To Mongo, I love you and I hope you are safe. Mummy misses you so much my sweet little monkey.”
Her story is a powerful testament to the deep bond between humans and their dogs. For Sara Sampaio, Mongo is more than a pet — he’s family, and no amount of time or distance will ever change that.
To the Los Angeles community: if you see a small, scared dog in the Hollywood Hills or surrounding area, please help bring him home.
