Alert for everyone in SoCal or who knows people in SoCal:

[kestrel91316]

http://www.examiner.com/article/public-s-help-needed-to-reunite-incarcerated-dog-with-his-owner-california

We need to locate the man in the photo who came to claim his dog from the pound in San Bernardino but left without it because he lacked funds to bail the dog out. A private party has raised the funds, but no one knows who this guy is.






Please pass this on to anyone and everyone you know in the Inland Empire and especially the San Bernardino area!

I am posting this in GD to get the widest exposure.

[silverweb]

1. K&R

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Can't help directly, but kicking.

[pkdu]

2. Good news. Check the FB link fr posting 1min ago!

He gets dog back Tue and a job offer!

[newfie11]

3. Great news. Nt

[frylock]

5. fantastic news!

[dkf]

7. If they find him.

I didn't see that they had.

[pscot]

8. That is so good.

[robinlynne]

11. wonderful!

[840high]

17. Happy news.

[Cha]

18. Good job, pkdu! And, thanks for the OP, kestrel!

[Liberal_in_LA]

41. yay!

[patrice]

4. Sharing.

[dkf]

6. This part is just mean... From the FB post.

I was sorta eavesdropping while in line behind him. This is what I heard:
He was walking to the store to get a pack of cigarettes, he saw a couple of acquaintances on the way. He stopped to talk to them. A cop pulled up to them, he had a warrant for 2 unpaid traffic tickets so was taken to jail. He mentioned an officer Martinez. I do not know if that was his arresting officer or the animal control officer. Any who...the officer Martinez supposedly had his dog impounded while he was in jail. The officer said it was a stray dog, when in fact it was not. After they told him about the fees and such, he looked so defeated. He offered to put a deposit of the $6.00 in his pocket. The staff said it would not be necessary. When it was my turn, I got the info I needed on the dogs I photographed, then I asked how much was needed to get the guys dog out. I walked out to the kennel and gave the man the treats I had leftover and then sat on the bench and took this photo. I had to leave to get back to work.

[kestrel91316]

9. So, basically, the cop tried to murder the guy's dog because he had a

couple of unpaid traffic tickets.

God, why am I not the least bit surprised?

[dkf]

12. Yes. :(

You know what...it's not mean its sick. Taking that out on a poor dog too what a monster.

[Walk away]

42. You don't know that's true. Did the dog have tags and rabies shots?

Did it have the other shots it needs to stay healthy and not infect other animal? If you don't register your dog and have current shot you can cause illness and pain. There is a reason that people who don't provide their pets with the basic vaccines and paperwork can't keep pets. You don't even know if this was a kill shelter.

I doubt that this poor dog was current with his medications. If he wasn't then he needed to be taken off the street until he was made safe and had a home with someone who can afford basic pet care.

[punkin87]

36. What a sick, twisted person that cop is. They wonder why people hate cops.

[uponit7771]

38. Don't hate cops but hate the unmitigated power they are allowed to have

[1monster]

10. Passed on via Facebook.

K&R

[sabrina 1]

13. The policed probably know who he is. Someone should contact them

to find out.

Just saw a post that says he has been found and will get his dog back and has been offered a job. I don't know if that is true or not, but I hope it is.

[riderinthestorm]

14. They must know who he is, there's mandatory sign-ins at every shelter, pound and animal control

I've been to.

You can't simply walk back into the kennels without first going through the security procedures at the desk.



My local animal shelter requires you to produce a photo ID which they photocopy before you are allowed to see the dogs, even your own (and they ask what your purpose is before you are allowed to walk the kennels so if this guy was identified as an owner that should have been noticed)!

Weird.

Kestrel, are you in the LA area? My daughter just moved there and needs a new cat vet! Would love to patronize a fellow DUer/Dem!! Pm me please!

[retrogal]

24. Not at mine...

I was able to go look at any dog I wanted to and never had to show an ID. Only when I decided on my dog and went through the adoption papers did I have to show my ID. I was in and out of our humane society for a couple of weeks as I got to know the dog I thought would be best for me.

[Gormy Cuss]

26. No ID requested at my shelter unless you're trying to leave with an animal

whether it's reclaiming your own pet or adopting one. I'm also in CA, like kestrel but I'm in the SF bay area.

[NBachers]

15. I hope it works out. Somehow, the guy and the dog look like they belong together.

I've been in similar predicaments.

I could be that guy.

That could be my dog.

I don't know why I have such an emotional response to this story, but I do.

[tavalon]

34. Because you are a good human

When a story like this makes one have a gut check, the gut belongs to a good person.

[NYC_SKP]

16. K/R (nt)

[calimary]

19. KICK!!!!

[abelenkpe]

20. Post this on reddit and k&r nt

[Raksha]

21. I'm in San Bernardino, and also on Facebook.

I posted the picture with the link to Maria Sanchez's FB page on my timeline, and also on the timelines of two local friends, both of whom are dog lovers. Don't know if it will help in locating the dog's owner, but at least it will increase the odds.

When Maria last updated her FB page, she said she had learned the man's first name is Christopher, but that's all she seems to know so far.

[magellan]

22. My heart breaks for both of them

Many of my facebook friends are in SoCal so I've shared. I hope these two are reunited soon.

[retrogal]

23. My heart breaks reading about this also

Looks like the man and his dog are together again but still so sad it had to happen.

[magellan]

25. Are they?

Excellent if so. I hadn't seen that update.

And yes, very sad it had to happen. I'm not going to get down on the officer straightaway as he may not have had any options, given the situation. But man, that's not something I could have done. I would've given the guy a pass, warrants or not.

[tblue]

27. How freaky freaky freaky

that I am there visiting at this moment. Have not been here in a year at keast. Wish I had seen this post earlier but it looks like dude got his doggie back. Thank goodness!!!! I couldn't bear it if he hadn't gotten him back. My niece just told me LAST NIGHT she got her beautiful silver/white pittie at the SB pound for $61! Damn! That's a bargain! (And he is a giant muscle-bound 100 lb puppy who thinks you should let him sit on your lap like his chihuahua sister.)

I'm so happy this guy got his doggie back. I am a sucker for puppies of all types, ages, and sizes. That one looks like a real love.

[life long demo]

28. My heart was just breaking reading this story

Looks like there may be some problems at the San Bernardino shelter. I hope they find the guy or that he comes back. Mutual love in that picture.

[Berlum]

29. kick

Good luck Bowser & Buddy

[NBachers]

30. I haven't seen, either in the Examiner article or the Facebook page, that this has been resolved

Can anyone point me to the information that states that this guy has been reunited with his dog?

[bananas]

37. I haven't either. nt

[Sedona]

31. UPDATE:

Maria C* S* has notified everyone needed. The police have been notified. They can not give public his contact info but have notified shelter. We need no more pledges or any rescues stepping in. This is taken care of and Maria is waiting till Tuesday to reunite this gentleman with his baby. She will post freedom pictures after reunion.

watch this space

http://www.examiner.com/article/public-s-help-needed-to-reunite-incarcerated-dog-with-his-owner-california

[greiner3]

32. UPDATE:

"Maria C* S* has notified everyone needed. The police have been notified. They can not give public his contact info but have notified shelter. We need no more pledges or any rescues stepping in. This is taken care of and Maria is waiting till Tuesday to reunite this gentleman with his baby. She will post freedom pictures after reunion."

Kewl from someone who was technically homeless for 48 hours!

[tavalon]

33. Oh, man, that really renews my faith in my fellow human beings

Damn, nice to come home to this.

[tavalon]

35. Wow, Facebook was a force for good today

Over 5000 shares and it didn't take all that long to locate this man.

[meeshrox]

39. K&R for exposure

I don't know anyone in SoCal, but I wish the best of luck to everyone involved!

[shireen]

40. shared with a friend who lives in that area

She rescued a very sick dog with three pups from that same shelter. That dog turned out to be absolutely wonderful, certainly the most interesting dog I've ever known about. She has her own FB page and 223 fans so far.

https://www.facebook.com/YouHelpedSaveLucilleAndHerPups

[Raksha]

43. Latest updates from Facebook - KTLA covered the story (video at link).

http://ktla.com/2013/02/18/animal-advocates-work-to-reunite-homeless-man-with-beloved-dog-stefan-chase-reports/#tErxzupVus3ZaqY0.01

Updates from Maria's FB page:

UPDATE 2/17/13 9:25pm: GUESS WHO JUST CALLED ME???
Not Christopher, because that is not his name. Dave, the owner of “Buzz Lightyear”. He is so grateful for everyone coming together to help him out. I will be meeting him tomorrow at 10am when the shelter opens. I will post an update tomorrow. Buzz will have to go to the vet to be neutered Wednesday, but he will be home with Dave by Wednesday night!

Update #2:

I am getting so many nice comments from everyone for helping Dave raise the money to get his dog Buzz Lightyear out of the shelter, but everyone else on here helped too. I would have been lost without Amanda Halstead during these last few days. She will never know how much I appreciated her. You guys would not believe what I have been through trying to find this man! I got a ticket for making an illegal left turn in a city I am not familiar with, I was side swiped leaving the homeless shelter tonight after doing the interviews with the news stations. A witness to the accident (thank God he was there) said a car passed him at a high rate of speed. He watched her try to pass me on my right hand side, instead she hit a parked car, bounced off my car and spun until she knocked over a stop sign and came to a stop on the curb. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance. I am a bit sore and shaken up, but I drove away from the accident. Someone or something kept me safe tonight! I am so thankful for whatever it was. This is why people should be nice to each other, you get good karma. For the rotten people that were on this thread calling me a scammer and worse…you need to take a good look at yourself in the mirror. WHO HURT YOU?


The news stations will be at the shelter at 10am tomorrow. I will be meeting Dave to take care of all the necessary fees. I will post my PayPal tomorrow for anyone who has wanted to donate. Anything I receive after the cost of the fees and vetting that I pay on my credit card will go to Dave and Buzz. Please check back tomorrow for a photo of Dave, Buzz and ME!!!

[ellisonz]

44. Glad they found him and glad she's alright.

[ellisonz]

45. Re-united:

[Raksha]

46. Wonderful videos and picture, ellisonz.

Thank you for posting them and saving me a little work. There will probably be a couple of local news stories later tonight also. I'll post the links as they become available.

[kestrel91316]

47. Happy ending!!! YAY!!!