Suspected pet-theft alert: Shiba Inu missing

At left, that’s Butch the Shiba Inu, for whom Ray and Mary Eldridge are frantically searching right now. They e-mailed to say, “We believe someone stole our dog, a black and tan Shiba Inu … from in front of the West Seattle Library this afternoon. He looks like a miniature Malamute, weighs about 22 lbs. He has a microchip in him, and tags with our phone number. Please be on the lookout for him and call us if you see him. Our number is 206-914-1290.” They say they’re reporting it to police as well. UPDATE: They clarify, this happened outside the High Point library.

livingonthebeach January 30, 2009 (3:33 pm)

I am sorry for your situation. I hope you find him. I am puzzled though, why do people leave their animals tied up outside anywhere? I would be devistated if anyone took my dog.
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Best of luck finding him…we will be on the look out too.

Cait January 30, 2009 (4:08 pm)

I really really really hope he didn’t get stolen… I’ll be on the look out. He’s absolutely adorable.

andrea January 30, 2009 (4:13 pm)

That’s horrible if he was stolen! How horrible to have to go through! I will keep my eyes peeled for you. He’s a beautiful dog.

LisaM January 30, 2009 (4:37 pm)

Oh, I am so sorry to hear this. Please let us know how else we can help.

Meghan January 30, 2009 (4:48 pm)

This is awful and I certainly hope this adorable dog is found unharmed! It’s not widely reported, but I have heard that stealing dogs is becoming more and more common, especially valuable dogs. There have been several cases around Seattle in the past year of people trying to steal dogs. Personally, I would no more leave my dog tied up outside a business than I would a child (or anything of value), especially in the society we now live in.

Sharon January 30, 2009 (4:54 pm)

Is it possible Butch got loose? I had my two dogs tied to the bike rack outside High Point once and they managed to pull the leashes off the rack and they took off on 35th. Another library user told me my dogs were loose and I caught them.

D.j. January 30, 2009 (4:56 pm)

We have a shiba, too, and I can tell you, not only are these dogs beautiful, they are usually very friendly and would go willingly with anyone. Good luck finding your butchie boy; we’ll keep our eyes open out here in the Fauntlee Hills area.

Michelle January 30, 2009 (6:05 pm)

I’ll keep an eye out. We get our Shiba next Saturday. Good luck to you. I know what It’s like to not know where your dog is…when my last dog got lost somebody called right away.

kc January 30, 2009 (6:09 pm)

This is awful. I also have a Shiba and she is known to wander off if not tied down, which is common for the breed. If I can do anything to help such as put up flyers, etc. Just post what I can do! Thanks.

Creighton January 30, 2009 (6:31 pm)

Just out of curiosity, what makes you say he was stolen? Was the leash cut with a knife or did someone see him being taken away?

changingtimes January 30, 2009 (7:58 pm)

omg creighton! these innocent peoples dog was taken and all you do is send negativity there way! that is horrible! anyways I wish you guys the best of luck in finding him! he is a beutiful dog!

old timer January 30, 2009 (8:46 pm)

Regarding theft:
Never underestimate anyone’s ability to be a lower creature than you can possibly imagine.

Too bad there aren’t dog locks, sort of like bicycle locks,
but humane.

JoB January 30, 2009 (9:48 pm)

i hope your little shiba is returned to you soon…

i have two myself and know what little escape artists they can be..

alki_2008 January 30, 2009 (11:06 pm)

King 5 news at 11pm is doing a report on this story.

p2 January 30, 2009 (11:11 pm)

truly awful, my heart goes out to you.

i’d be way too afraid to leave my dog unattended but there are key locking leashes designed for secure hook up. reinforced with steel cable to deter cutting. here’s one example by ruffwear

http://www.altrec.com/ruff-wear/doglock-locking-leash?cm_mmc=keywords-_-google-_-Ruff+Wear-_-DogLock+Locking+Leash

WSB January 30, 2009 (11:17 pm)

Alki_2008, I noted on Twitter the soundbite they used in a short version of the story during their 10 pm news on channel 6 … it began with “The blog …” :) Do hope the additional exposure brings Butch back home.

GreenSpaces January 31, 2009 (12:28 am)

I have emailed every single person I know in the neighborhood, and everyone in the High Point K9 Club also, with a photo and the phone number. I have a small dog also and would never trust anyone I didn’t know to not take her.

I have done the research and there ARE dog locks that lock on both ends – a collar locked around the neck and a lock to go around a fixed object, but they are TOO HEAVY for small dogs. And it is the small dogs that need them the most, because they are rearely initmidating or dangerous and most likely to get taken. Someone needs to come up with a light weight but cut-proof design.

Everyone I know in High Point is on the lookout.

Scott B. January 31, 2009 (1:50 am)

I occasionally have nightmares about my dogs being let loose against my will to get riled up and run. It is a relief to wake up to realize my dogs are right here in my bedroom.

Everyone is different, I guess.

bb January 31, 2009 (8:42 am)

i realize it sucks that someone took your dog or it got away, but i dont get people tieing thier dogs up and leaving them? if you love the animal then leave it at home or walk it, dont shackle it for 10 20 minutes outside alone. i see people leave dogs in the rain, snow, cold, heat, blocking doors, sidewalks. then they get loose or stolen or bite someone and the blame everyone else in the world.

cali January 31, 2009 (8:53 am)

i am so sorry! we will keep our eyes out. i hope he comes home!

Mary Eldridge January 31, 2009 (11:14 am)

Thanks to everyone here who is helping in the search for Butch.

I understand the comments about tying dogs up outside places. However, Butch has been going to the Library with my husband for a long time. I guess we’ve been lucky until now. He usually just sits and watches and my husband always sits right where he can see Butch and is never there for more than 10-15 minutes. He looked away…and Butch is gone.

We’re fairly sure he was stolen, just because of the type of leash he was tied with. It wouldn’t have come loose without breaking and leaving the handle behind. He had to be untied. He has escaped from our home before, but someone has always found him and called us to return him within hours of him going missing. So we know all about how much little Houdini’s they are, and they do love to wander.

We continue to search. We feel bad enough about losing our beloved pet. I hope we don’t have to keep rehashing they why or why not of tying pets up outside the library, or any other building. Would we do it again? Probably not. But everyone’s situation is different, so I for one will be careful not to judge, because I just don’t know the whole story….

Robindianne January 31, 2009 (4:58 pm)

I’m sending homeward bound thoughts to your Butch and peaceful thoughts to you and your husband Mary. I also used to tie my dog at the library in Ballard. I just cannot fathom people stealing a dog. I’m hoping he comes back to you really soon!

Meghan January 31, 2009 (6:50 pm)

Mary – my heart truly breaks for you and I’m sorry you feel judged. Like most everyone who posted comments, I sincerely hope you find our beloved dog unharmed and soon. But a situation like yours does give us an opportunity to remind other dog owners that, unpleasant as it may be, there are dishonest, mean, evil and desperate people all around and the sad reality is that it just isn’t responsible to leave your dog (or your child) unattended anymore. I see dogs tied up outside businesses regularly, vulnerable to abuse or kidnapping. And then I increasinly hear stories of dogs being stolen and lost. This is a great opportunity for collective learning. So don’t worry about what other people think of you (that never matters anyway!). Just use it as a learning experience and an opportunity to help others. And again, I hope you find your dog!!!

RainyDay1235 January 31, 2009 (10:07 pm)

Sad that we can’t even leave a dog leashed up for even a few minutes anymore. I would be frantic. I hope he comes home safe. This is in my neighborhood so I will be on diligent lookout!!

Walker February 1, 2009 (3:00 pm)

Post flyers and offer a cash reward. That’s how the scammers usually work. They’ll swing by the library in a few days to look for signs. $250 should be enough to get them to “find” your dog. You also have the option of waiting them out. They’ll probably dump him close (not too close) to where they live if you don’t post flyers in the next few days.

j. February 1, 2009 (7:46 pm)

This is terrible. I used to live on Queen Anne and would take my dog everywhere with me because I walked everywhere. Gym, grocery, dry cleaner, lunch. I bought a locking leash because I was so worried someone would steal my sweet beautiful dog.

http://www.ruffwear.com/DogLock-Locking-Leash

I hope you find your boy. We are thinking of you.

doxie mom February 1, 2009 (9:45 pm)

I was sick about this story and my heart goes out to you and your husband. I hope Butch is returned safely and soon.
We will be on the lookout.

Mary T February 2, 2009 (12:54 pm)

j., that locking leash is interesting — but couldn’t someone just unhook the leash from the collar? Maybe I’m not getting it, but I’m curious. (I do some freelance writing about pet products so always on the lookout for things I haven’t heard about.) Thanks! And best of luck to Butch’s people in finding him. I would be so devastated if one of our buddies went missing.

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