Little Dipper!

So, we had a little buddy waiting at our doorstep when we got home (at 4am) from the Arts Festival Sunday morning. What a pleasant and joyful surprise. Of course we immediately took him in, fed him and took him to bed, determined to find his owner in the morning. (I knew Greg was loving him when he said "do you think we should just let him sleep on the bed.. I mean it is more comfortable up here...?") The little guy snuggled up in a pile of clothes next to the bed. It was the happiest thing to wake up to the next morning. Greg knocked on a few doors but was unlucky, and he decided to go skating.

It was hot and I had planned to spend my day lounging by the pool, but this seemed more important. I logged on to craigslist.com to see if anyone had reported a missing dog. No luck for me either. I posted a Found notice with my contact information and then decided to walk him around the property and also hang a few paper signs up. I hoped to run into someone who had heard or knew something. I carried him around in a purse like one of those crazy rich girls. I have to admit I really enjoyed it. Nothing significant seemed to happen. I went home and he curled up in my lap for a nap.

A few hours later I received a phone call from a male named Brenden stating he lost his dog and found my note. The whole call was weird. I did not have a good feeling about this guy...but he knew all the details. I had specifically not given any information online or in my signs, as I wanted someone to describe the sex, breed and markings. He was just too cute to let him get into the wrong hands. The gentleman asked if he could come tomorrow as he was at a family reunion. What? You lost your dog yesterday and you're not anxious to get him back? What kind of pet owner are you? Of course I would keep him another night, I would have kept him forever if the owner had never shown up...

Well, Brendan called me back an hour later. I almost didn't answer the phone, it felt wrong. He stated that his wife was pissed and he needed to pick the dog up now. Now that is more like it... Still, I felt completely uneasy. I didn't want to give the dog up. Things just didn't seem right. But what do you do? You have someone's dog and now someone shows up claiming to be the owner and has all the right information, you want to be trusting, even though the alarm is sounding in your head. I handed him over, but I felt sick about it. As he drove away, I notated the license plate of the creepy white Chester the Molester van.

That night at a family BBQ, I received another phone call. This time it was a guy named Jeff. "I found your ad on craigslist, I think you have my dog." He knew every detail down to the little white tip on his tail. My heart sank. I knew it all along. I shared my story, and I gave him the phone number of the man who had claimed to be the owner. I promised any assistance necessary. Jeff called me back after talking to him and relayed Brenden's bullshit story about he was with the Humane Society and was helping me out to find the owner. He said he could pick the dog up tomorrow. No! Go now!!!!

12:30pm the next day, Jeff calls. His roommate Dustin and true owner of the adorable Chihuahua had gone to pick up the dog and the guy claimed it must have escaped. Liar! I knew he had the dog. They would be pressing charges, with my help. I was so angry. My heart was breaking for the owner and for Little Dipper (that's just what we called him, his real name was Dimitri). Without thinking I sent a warning text message to the thief that the owners were calling the police and that I had his license plate and his phone number. Return the dog or else. Just then Greg said, "just promise me you won't text that guy." Too late. He called me a few minutes later stating the owners had picked up the dog that morning. I knew the truth and threw it in his face. He threatened and I threatened back, I will help them put you in jail. Theft by impersonation is a felony, not to mention it was a service animal. I hung up on him having the last word. A few minutes later I spoke with Dustin, I would help him file a police report that evening. I cried. He was so kind, and assured me that everything would work out.

What do you know... an hour later I got a call from Jeff stating they got the dog back! The thief suddenly magically turned up with the lost pet. I was so relieved. I don't know what I would have done if that hadn't happened. They are still planning on pressing charges and I will gladly assist. To think that someone who saw me hanging signs for someone's lost loved one, and then stole all the signs to disguise the information from the true owner, and would intentionally break people's hearts is unbelievable to me. I want to believe the world is better than this. Thank you Craigslist and the internet for the ability to reach beyond the tricks of someones bad deed.

Little Dipper is back where he belongs, but he is truly missed...