Stolen dog from Ottawa found in Wyoming reunited with owner in Canada
Imagine having your pet stolen, thinking you have a slim chance of getting it back, but a year later you receive a phone call from a police officer nearly 3,000 kilometres away that it had been found.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
It’s what happened to an Ottawa woman, Alaina Tripp and her dog Teddy.
"Teddy is home, and that's a really great feeling," she told CTV News on Tuesday.
It’s a reunion nearly a year in the making, and a "tail" of never giving up hope.
It all started when Tripp says her mini poodle Teddy was stolen from her Centretown apartment last September.
"I called the police, the police came to get fingerprints," she said.
The theft was captured by security cameras from a neighboring property.
"They have cameras that saw [the suspect] push in the air conditioner and actually caught the gentleman taking Teddy. And going into his truck," she said.
As time went on, she thought there was little chance of seeing him again, until two weeks ago, when she got a phone call.
"It said, 'call the Riverton Police Department' and I said, 'okay, maybe this is a joke,'"
It was no joke.
The call was coming from a police department in Riverton, Wyo. saying they had her dog.
Police were able return the dog to Tripp because of a simple traffic stop.
"Yes, a traffic violation. Yeah. Then ended up into this big deal," said Shannon Sanderson, an Animal Control Officer with the Riverton Police.
"One of our officers, Officer Don Nethicumara, made just a normal traffic stop on this gentleman. And every traffic stop, as everybody knows, they run their name to see if there's any warrants or anything like that."
“After running this gentleman's name, it was found that he had a stolen dog from Canada."
The officer making the stop asked if there was a dog in the car, said Sanderson.
"He did say yes and there was Teddy."
Police took the dog back to the station, where Teddy, "just stole all of our hearts," she said.
Staff at the police station took care of Teddy, even taking him home at night. Thanks to donations and a lot of effort by many, Teddy began his long journey home.
"And logistic wise, it's not as easy as some people think," said Lori Borutski with Ottawa and Valley Lost Pet Network.
Teddy was driven to Denver, Colo. then flown to Los Angeles where he flew to Toronto’s Pearson Airport, and Borutski helped Tripp to pick him up.
"I really feel like he remembered her and he was happy to be home," she said.
"I never thought I'd be here. It's one of those happy endings where you're sure that there will not be a happy ending," said Tripp.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestion
Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally, contending that shippers are charged “ridiculous” fees to pass through the vital transportation channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Man handed 5th distracted driving charge for using cell phone on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
An Ottawa driver was charged for using a cell phone behind the wheel on Sunday, the fifth time he has faced distracted driving charges.
Wrongfully convicted N.B. man has mixed feelings since exoneration
Robert Mailman, 76, was exonerated on Jan. 4 of a 1983 murder for which he and his friend Walter Gillespie served lengthy prison terms.
Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no
A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General.
opinion Christmas movies for people who don't like Christmas movies
The holidays can bring up a whole gamut of emotions, not just love and goodwill. So CTV film critic Richard Crouse offers up a list of Christmas movies for people who might not enjoy traditional Christmas movies.
More than 7,000 Jeep SUVs recalled in Canada over camera display concern
A software issue potentially affecting the rearview camera display in select Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee models has prompted a recall of more than 7,000 vehicles.
'I'm still thinking pinch me': lost puppy reunited with family after five years
After almost five years of searching and never giving up hope, the Tuffin family received the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for: being reunited with their long-lost puppy.
10 hospitalized after carbon monoxide poisoning in Ottawa's east end
The Ottawa Police Service says ten people were taken to hospital, with one of them in life-threatening condition, after being exposed to carbon monoxide in the neighbourhood of Vanier on Sunday morning.
New York City police apprehend suspect in the death of a woman found on fire in a subway car
New York City police announced Sunday they have in custody a “person of interest” in the early morning death of a woman who they believe may have fallen asleep on a stationary subway train before being intentionally lit on fire by a man she didn't know.