$15,000 Reward for Huckleberry - 2 Arrested!

If I could afford it - I would. Thankfully, (never thought I would really say this!) Casey is NOT good with strangers, and would bite anyone who tried to grab him. And... I never leave my pets unattended where something could happen to them.

No, I don't have $15,000 to offer, but I also don't let other people walk my dogs and leave them tied out on the street either. 

I would offer a reward if one of my pets were "lost", but I know I couldn't come up with that kind of money. I also have "reward" on their little dog tag that has their name and my phone number.  I also would not leave my pets where somebody could just walk off with them.  I would go to great lengths to get them back.

Max is super friendly and would happily walk off with anyone, too.  In  this case I think if the investigation proves that the dognappers were the ones that also collected the reward, they should be forced to return it.

Joyce

Wow...sad situation. Truthfully. if I had that kind of money, I woudln't even think twice about it. There wouldn't be any amount too much for the safe return of one of my boys.

Sunshinegirl

Is there insurance to cover pet theft? Does homeowners cover that?

I know for a fact that home insurance will cover accidental death of a pet so I would bet it also covers theft.

There was a quick interview with the man who returned Huckleberry today on the radio. He said he found the dog loose about an hour after it went missing and he took the dog home because he "was a dog lover". When asked if he called the local SPCA he said "No, I don't trust them." and went on to say that when he saw the reward posted in the paper he immediately called the owner. The owner asked him what he thought would be fair compensation for finding the dog. The man said he would take $10,000 and $5,000 should be donated to the local animal hospital. That was the final deal.

I am surprised there is not much discussion about the dog walker, who IMO was responsible for this whole mess. At least her picture and name was published in the news report so I would imagine she will have quite a drop in business. Still if I were Huckleberry's owner I would be trying to recoup some of my costs from her. 

I would as well, Denise.  Maybe I am odd, but I couldn't imagine taking money for returning someone's dog, unless that was my intention all along.  Maybe it's just me, and I am odd and don't like getting things from people (I hate opening presents) but I couldn't see myself actually taking reward money for something like this

I would pay a reward for my dog, but I could not imagine taking money for returning a dog.  My "reward" would be seeing a dog and an owner being reunited.  That would be the great gift.

 My pet insurance covers both a reward and advertising costs in the event that Ben goes missing, either by running away or by theft.  Off the top of my head, I believe advertising costs are $2500 and the reward somewhere between 3000 and 4000 US.  Should I ever require it (and I hope I never do) I wouldn't hesitate to use my insurance - that's what it's there for.  IMHO, anyone who didn't see that sum as a great reward would be the person who took my dog for the purposes of financial gain anyway, and they wouldn't deserve a penny. 

Has anybody else heard or read the story "The Ransom of Red Chief?"  Two kidnappers kidnap this young boy from a rich family and demand a large sum of money for his return.  Well the kid turns out to be a hellion and the criminals keep reducing the ransom money amount.  Then eventually the family makes the kidnappers pay them to take the kid back.

 That's what it would be like if someone deliberately took Xerxes.  Oh sure he looks like a pretty dog, and he is a pretty dog, the down side is that he would bark non-stop at strangers (he can go for 5 or 6 hours barking non-stop.)  Then when he got tired of barking he'd figure out how to make his escape...crates don't matter, he's learned how to open doors and windows.  He's clever enough to steal their food when they're not looking....

So I'd expect that IF someone could catch him, and IF they figured out a way to keep him from escaping...they'd be calling me and asking me to take him back.
 

Xerxes..that would be Tessa and Diesel!  Both pretty dogs..and no doubt someone may want them..but theyd bring them back!  They are both VERY much one person dogs...and while they may love on strangers at the store, once they are away from their momma its another story!  As for Kodi..theyd have to bring her back or theyd have a huge vet bill..she too is mommas dog, and i know for a fact if some stranger took her, shed just lay on the floor cowered in the corner, and wouldnt eat..she'd just waste away out of stress!

Xerxes

Has anybody else heard or read the story "The Ransom of Red Chief?"  Two kidnappers kidnap this young boy from a rich family and demand a large sum of money for his return.  Well the kid turns out to be a hellion and the criminals keep reducing the ransom money amount.  Then eventually the family makes the kidnappers pay them to take the kid back.

 That's what it would be like if someone deliberately took Xerxes.  Oh sure he looks like a pretty dog, and he is a pretty dog, the down side is that he would bark non-stop at strangers (he can go for 5 or 6 hours barking non-stop.)  Then when he got tired of barking he'd figure out how to make his escape...crates don't matter, he's learned how to open doors and windows.  He's clever enough to steal their food when they're not looking....

So I'd expect that IF someone could catch him, and IF they figured out a way to keep him from escaping...they'd be calling me and asking me to take him back.
 

Yes, seems there was a spoof about a basenji doing this - after shredding all the paper products, eating the blinds. ripping up the carpet, destroying the sofa, etc the dognappers would not want him any more.