North Van RCMP reminds pet owners to be vigilant after dog stolen outside store
Posted February 13, 2024 2:52 pm.
Last Updated February 13, 2024 2:53 pm.
Mounties say charges are being recommended after a dog was taken from outside a North Vancouver business Monday.
One person was arrested and the golden retriever named Amber was reunited with her loved ones hours after she was reported missing.
Investigators say they “received a frantic phone call” around 1:30 p.m. from the dog’s owner reporting that her six-year-old dog had been stolen from outside the Shoppers Drug Mart on Lonsdale Avenue.
Officers were called out and say CCTV footage from a nearby construction site showed a man walking with a dog that matched Amber’s description.
The RCMP took to social media to ask for help in finding the dog, and says “within minutes,” it received “a flood of calls of possible sightings of Amber and the suspect on a SeaBus heading toward Vancouver.”
“At approximately 4:30 p.m., after transit police were advised of the possible sighting, they located the suspect and dog leaving the SkyTrain station at Waterfront,” Const. Mansoor Sahak with the North Vancouver RCMP said Tuesday.
“The suspect is facing possible charges of theft under $5,000.”
‘It was a positive resolution but it could have easily gone south’
Mounties are thanking the community for the support that led to this happy resolution.
“We’re just grateful that this had a positive resolution at the end,” he said. “But, again, we need to warn pet owners to be vigilant and not leave unattended animals … This is a prime example of why we don’t do that and, in this case, it was a positive resolution, but it could have easily gone south.”
Sahak says officers see unattended pets “quite often,” adding he understands that sometimes it feels unavoidable.
“A lot of places don’t allow animals unless it’s a service dog, so that puts dog owners in a pickle. So the first place they see is right out front. That’s okay a lot of times,” he said.
However, he recommends either leaving the dog with someone you trust while they wait, or leave your pet at home if you can.
