A Clearwater man whose dog was lost on a Delta flight is searching for answers and his beloved pet.

Frank Romano sits in his Clearwater hotel room staring at his phone waiting for the call.

“I have my phone charged all the time,” said Romano.

Romano’s dog Ty is missing.

“I have a gut feeling that he’s okay," he said.

Delta Airlines said Ty escaped from his kennel as passengers boarded a flight in Los Angeles to Tampa on Oct. 31.

“One of the Delta employees called me off the plane, took me to the side and said that your dog bit through the kennel and he ran away, but we found him and we just need you to identify him," he said. "And then two minutes later, she told me he ran away an hour ago and they still can’t find him.”

Romano searched that entire night, but never found Ty. The next morning he had to board another flight to Tampa Bay, his new home, but his heart is still in L.A.

“He means the world to me, he’s my best friend, he’s a big part of this family," he said.

Romano calls Delta every day. The airline is searching and the corporate office is involved. Romano just wants his dog.

“That’s the only thing I want in the world right now," he said.

Delta released this statement to Bay News 9 Tuesday:

"Delta continues to investigate what happened, but early indications show procedures were followed and the dog may have compromised the kennel on its own. Delta immediately worked with LAX airport teams and the customer to locate the dog but was unsuccessful. We remain in contact with this customer and we are fully supporting the search for their pet. Delta understands that pets are an important member of the family and regrets this occurred while this pet was entrusted to our care."