Cops: Neighbor demands $150 to return missing dog

[Liberal_in_LA]

Cops: Neighbor demands $150 to return missing dog

FLINT, Mich.—Flint police said a city resident has taken "finders, keepers" to a whole new level, by taking in a missing dog that belonged to a neighbor couple and demanding $150 for its return. When the wife learned Thursday the neighbor might have her tan Pomeranian named "Cookie," she confronted the person and was told how much it would cost to get the pooch back.

The Flint Journal said the wife was told the neighbor paid $150 for the dog and needed to get that money back before allowing Cookie to return home.

Police said Friday the case remains under investigation.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/weird-news/ci_15925376

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Go to the police and file charges of extortion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extortion

[RKP5637]

3. +1, n/t

[Maine-ah]

2. not much info in the story

so there are all sorts of possibilities...

is neighbor just an asshole or...

is owner a negligent owner (lets dog roam free etc... )

did neighbor bring dog to a vet to get checked out which is why he wants $150 before returning the dog?

[aquart]

6. Yikes, that happened to me.

A friend begged me to take care of her friend's cat because the friend was going overseas and she couldn't take him. Within 36 hours I was stuck with a $500 vet bill. And damned right I didn't return the cat till the bill was paid.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. :-( glad you took cat for vet though

What would you done with cat if vet bill wasn't paid? Give it a loving home, I hope.

[Lightning Count]

13. How much do cat handbags go for these days?

J/K. Owner of two cats here.

[aquart]

17. Kept him.

One of my biggest regrets is letting him go. But my mom put up the vet money and I had to get it back for her.

[LiberalAndProud]

20. What was wrong with the poor kitty?

[Liberal_in_LA]

7. a tiny bit more info. dog napper says he paid $150 for the dog. sounds like he's lying

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/08/flint_couple_reports_stolen_do.html

[Bozita]

21. That's the scam. Dognapper buys dog from self and only wants his $$$ back.

The more popular the dog type, the more it'll cost you.

[rocktivity]

4. I've heard about junkies kidnapping small dogs for small ransoms

but I don't think that even junkies stoop this low.

Along with extortion, could the "new" owners also be charged with possession of stolen property?

:crazy:
rocktivity

[AndyA]

5. File a report that the dog was stolen, and press charges.

Nice neighbor. Fence companies love neighbors like that.

[Bozita]

8. Gotta microchip those pets!

Shelters often run microchip clinics. I paid $25 a few years back at one.

[flvegan]

11. Winning post!

Microchip is also like a VIN number. Helps prove "ownership" of the pet.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Other side of the coin:

I found an abandoned pup deep in my woods one fall, put up found sign at local ( and only store) in the area,and at the vet's.Kept pup, paid for all shots, neutering, etc, trained it, and 18 months later a guy 6 miles up the road says this fully trained dog is his, that his bitch had led all her pups into the woods and abandoned them there.
Story was actually plausible, since stray pups had been showing up in the area all at the same time.

Told the guy I found his story believable and that I would produce the vet, feed and training bills, dog was his for the cost of what I had paid out.
He declined the offer.
Found out later he had not accepted any of the dogs back from the new owners, they all had made him the same offer.

[pgodbold]

12. Poor Cookie ... Hugs to Cookie.

[guysalsburg]

14. $150 for return of lost dog - file charges of theft & extortion

In all 50 states pets are considered property, thus, by
holding this lost property the neighbor could be charged with
possession of stolen property. Yes, I know, the dog wandered
away, but the same would be true if you lost your wallet and
someone refused to return it without you paying them money -
they would, at that point, be in possession of stolen property
&, in some states, could even be charged as the one who
stole the property. If your neighbor had uniquely painted
trash cans and the wind blew them into the street and you
found them. You could not refuse to give them back without
being payed a reward. You are, at the moment you refuse to
give them back, in possession of stolen property and can be
arrested. By adding a monetary sum to be paid in order to
receive the stolen property back the individual can be charged
with extortion.

My advise, get a lawyer, have him contact the neighbor with
explaining of the law & threat to file legal charges, and
if his letter does not work go through with the threat. Have
her arrested when other neighbors are out enjoying the day or
doing lawn work, thus embarrassing her. If she gives the dog
back after being arrested, drop the charges, her embarrassment
will be enough punishment.

[snagglepuss]

15. Great advice. Welcome to DU.

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. That's dognapping

[unblock]

18. too bad it wasn't a kitten. "catnapping" is much nicer than "dognapping".

[tblue37]

19. If the neighbor spent that money buying the dog from

someone else, then that means she purchased stolen property--and that obviously isn't legal. If you buy stolen proeprty, you are just out the money you spent when the fact that it was stolen gets discovered.