how much is your pet worth to you?

[tropicana]

this happened in my neighborhood, it begs the question, how much is your pet worth to you?
What will you do? How far will you go? I can't blame this man at all, this pet was his life, But callers to a call-in program on the radio this morning , well some of them were scoffing at him for placing such a large sum of reward money on his pet dog.
I didnt think it was that fair for them to do that, after all it is his dog.

IT ALL STARTED SATURDAY WHEN MANS CHOCOLATE BROWN LABRADOR RETRIEVER DOG
GETS DOGNAPPED FROM OUTSIDE BAKERY

Frantic owner with deep bond to Lab explains why he offered $15,000 for the dog's return

Mon Feb 18, 2008 04:30 AM

It had all the drama of the television whodunit "Without A Trace."
Bert Clark sat in his living room Sunday holding his head in his hands as he and his friends juggled phones and ran a grassroots campaign to find his beloved Labrador retriever, who he believed was taken outside a Yonge St. café Saturday morning.
Clark was in such despair he had offered a $15,000 reward for the 3 1/2-year-old chocolate Lab named Huckleberry, who had been with Clark since he was 8 weeks old. Surrounded by friends and family at his home near Roxborough and Yonge Sts., Clark was so distraught he hardly slept.
"I won't be able to sleep until I know he's safe," he said yesterday.

Early Monday, an excited Clark called the Star to say Huckleberry, the victim of a dog-napping, had been returned safe and sound.
"Thank God he's okay," Clark told the Toronto Star's Emma Reilly. "I haven't slept in two days. I'm a wreck."

Huckleberry was returned Sunday night after police received a tip from the alleged doggy-nappers. Clark didn't say whether or not he issued the $15,000 reward.
"He's healthy, he's safe, and he's happy to see me," Clark said.

Clark had scoffed Sunday at any suggestion the reward was excessive. "This is a member of my family. I've never been in this house alone without him. He and I – it's our house. My life revolves around him. You know the adage: `A dog is man's best friend.' Well, he is my best friend."

Clark, 36, who works in the banking industry, had pulled in all the resources he could yesterday. Police took a statement and were involved. Officers seized TTC video footage from subway stations to try to track down possible dog-nappers seen outside Le Petit Gourmet café and were canvassing local stores. Clark's friends and family were out canvassing and putting up posters. Even strangers offered to help.

Clark frantically paced his living room and dining room – cellphone in one hand, cigarette in the other. His parents arrived to help out. They had just come from putting up posters in Parkdale, the Eaton Centre and along Queen St. in Leslieville. All the dog parks were covered off, as well as Fort York and Yonge St. between St. Clair and Front Sts.

Just after 1 p.m. a caller suggested the dog-napping hunch may be right. The caller asked Clark if he was prepared to give $15,000 for the dog's safe return. He said "yes" and then the phone went dead. Another call came soon after and he overheard a man and a woman arguing. Then he was asked if his dog had a green collar. Clark frantically answered "yes" again.

Then the line went dead.

Clark began making arrangements to get the cash ready.

Meanwhile, his dog walker Shannon Howard sat quietly in the living room.

She looked pale, tired and distraught. It was she who had been walking Huckleberry at 9 a.m. Saturday when she stopped to get something to eat at Le Petit Gourmet near Roxborough St. She said bystanders saw two teens – a male and female – petting the dog and hovering around him outside. She was only in the café for five minutes, she said.

When she returned Huckleberry was gone.
Clark was in Florida when he got the news of Huckleberry's disappearance.

He flew to Florida on Friday night, got the call the next morning, and turned right around and came back home.
The bond he feels with his dog has kept him going over the past 48 hours. Clark and his dog spent weekends at the cottage together. He slept with Clark each night. "He's a very gentle and trusting kind of dog with a sense of humour ... he is a priority in my life. I plan my day around him."

-justin-

[Stephanie]

If I had that kind of money, then yes, I probably would offer that.

I hope that the two "kiddies" who took him were also arrested. They had to been the ones that called him for identification of the dog.

[DaylilyDawn]

I can understand what he did, our pets are part of the family in the US. It broke my heart to have to give away our dog but had to since she bit the grandson several times because he would not leave her alone. She was given to one of my hubby's co-workers and we do have visiting priveleges.

[tropicana]

good news...
2 arrests made!

Feb 19, 2008 07:01 PM
THE CANADIAN PRESS

CTV News reports that Toronto police have arrested two people in the case of a dog who was apparently stolen, then later returned for a whopping $15,000 reward.

A dog walker had left Huckleberry, a chocolate lab, tied up outside a bakery in the city and returned minutes later to find the canine gone.

Dog owner Bert Clark, a 36-year-old Toronto banker, distributed some 400 posters offering a $15,000 reward for his beloved pet, which he considers a family member. He also purchased newspaper advertisements.

Richard Cassibo called police to report that he found Huckleberry and received a cheque for $10,000 from Clark, who also agreed to make a donation of $5,000, at Cassibo's request, to an animal hospital.

CTV News says two people are in police custody, and one is believed to be Cassibo.
Police plan to hold a news conference Wednesday to discuss the investigation

[arkess7]

I love my 2 cats and my dog! I would do anything for them just like i would my daughter! Pets are like children, once you have them they are yours forever.

[angelwing]

I feel the same way about my bearded dragon!

[coriolis]

We have so many pets. Add to that the fact that I am a grouch and a tightwad, here's what I would offer for rewards:

Either of our Dogs: $50

Any of our cats: Free to a good home

Mouse, Hampster, toads, turtles, or lizard: I'll give you a buck to take any of them.

[southerngale]

We have so many pets. Add to that the fact that I am a grouch and a tightwad, here's what I would offer for rewards:

Either of our Dogs: $50

Any of our cats: Free to a good home

Mouse, Hampster, toads, turtles, or lizard: I'll give you a buck to take any of them.

ROFL.

I love my dog and my kitten is quickly growing on me... if she'd just quit tearing into the bags of dog food and food packages when she gets the chance, and quit helping herself to things on the kitchen table or counter. Other than that, she's as sweet as pie.

I don't have $15,000 to give as a reward for either of them. I guess it would depend on what I could afford at the time.

[TexasStooge]

I love my 2 cats and my dog! I would do anything for them just like i would my daughter! Pets are like children, once you have them they are yours forever.

Well said.

[tropicana]

...keeping you guys up to date on whats going on with this case..

Thu Feb 21, 2008 05:10 PM

The tale of Huckleberry the stolen dog got a new twist today after two teenagers turned themselves in to police.
Toronto police arrested a 15-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl today in connection with a dognapping plot that saw the chocolate Labrador returned to its owner in exchange for a hefty reward.

It is not yet clear whether the arrests have anything to do with the couple of kids seen petting the dog just before it disappeared from outside a bakery at Roxborough and Yonge Sts. Saturday morning.
The teens were both charged with theft and possession under $5,000. The boy was also charged with failing to comply with probation.

They cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
The boy is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow and the girl is scheduled to appear March 20.

The new arrests are only the latest developments in a bizarre series of events that began when the dog was taken from outside Le Petit Gourmet café after his dogwalker looped his leash through a pipe and went inside.
When she emerged five minutes later, the 3-1/2-year-old dog was gone.

His devastated owner Bert Clark, 36, who works in the banking industry but has also been identified by sources as the son of the president of TD-Canada Trust, flew home to Toronto from Florida immediately.
He offered a $15,000 reward for the dog's safe return and even took out a "no questions asked" newspaper ad.

A dog-sighting was called in to police on Sunday night and Clark began negotiating with the caller for the safe return of his pooch.
Just after midnight Monday morning, Clark met with the caller, 54-year-old Richard Cassibo, and got his dog back. He gave Cassibo a cheque for $10,000 and agreed to donate — at Cassibo's request — the other $5,000 to the Banks Animal Hospital on Coxwell Ave.

Police showed up at Cassibo's home in the Main St. and Danforth Ave. area Tuesday morning and took him and his friend, Andrew Footit, 31, into custody.
Cassibo was released on bail Wednesday; Footit appeared in court today.

Both men facing charges of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, corruptly taking a reward for the recovery of goods and possession of property obtained by crime and fraud.
Cassibo was also charged with public mischief.