Elderly couple spotted their stolen senior Yorkie listed online as $1,800 ‘expensive puppy’— their next move led police straight to the thief’s door
It was every pet owner’s worst fear. One moment, everything was normal in the quiet yard of a Meriden, Connecticut home. Next, a beloved family dog had vanished. Panic quickly set in as the family realized their then 8-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Cookie had been taken. Days passed with no sign of him. For most, hope might have started to fade. But this story took a sharp turn thanks to a bit of luck, a watchful eye, and help from those who understood just how much a dog can mean to a family.
As reported by iHeartDogs, a few days after Cookie went missing, a then 16-year-old member of the family spotted something strange online. A Yorkie, looking exactly like Cookie, had been listed for sale on a mobile marketplace. The seller claimed the "expensive" dog was a 4-month-old puppy and asked for $1,800. Cookie’s family recognized him right away and quickly contacted the police. Working together, they formed a plan. “We’re all dog lovers, so we can empathize how this family felt losing a family member,” said Lt. Shane Phillips. An undercover officer arranged to meet the seller in order to confirm Cookie’s identity without raising an alarm.
The undercover officer posed as a potential buyer. Cookie had some unique features that only someone who had seen him up close would know. “Cookie had some unique identifiers that we needed to physically have contact with Cookie to be able to identify these features to determine if he was the stolen dog.” During the meeting, those identifiers were confirmed. But what really sealed it was Cookie’s reaction. When he saw his family again, there was no doubt left. He wagged, jumped, and covered them in kisses. “Cookie, the dog, was happy. As we were pulling up, the dog was jumping around the car, really excited to see the family, so we didn’t need confirmation that it was Cookie, but if we needed it, that was it,” said Phillips. Cookie was finally back where he belonged, safe and loved once again.
Though Cookie was home, the case was not yet closed. At the time, police had not made any arrests but confirmed that charges were expected. Those responsible would likely face larceny charges. Unfortunately, there are many cases where pet dogs are stolen for someone’s financial gain. In another recent incident, a French Bulldog named Fats went missing in Troy, Michigan, after a woman found him in her backyard and tried to help. She posted a photo online, hoping to find his family. Soon after, a man came forward, showing photos and details that seemed to prove he was the owner. Trusting him, she gave him the dog.
Later, the real owners contacted her, only to find out their dog had already been taken. The owners discovered that Fats was listed for sale online. With help from the police, they set up a meeting, pretending to be buyers. When the seller, Malik Deshawn Motley, showed up, police were already there. Fats was safely returned, and Motley was arrested. He later pleaded no contest and received jail time and a fine.