Judy
10-27-2005, 03:23 PM
By CHRIS CONRAD
Mail Tribune
A pooch evacuated from Katrina-ravaged New Orleans can now add dognapping to the list of scrapes he’s survived this year as he was returned Wednesday to the Southern Oregon Humane Society after three days.
Herby, a pit bull terrier mix who was found in an abandoned building in the French Quarter, was seen running along Stewart Avenue at around 8 a.m. by a Paden Eye Care employee. The woman brought the dog to the eye center and stowed him in a back room until police arrived, said Bill Templeman, SOHS executive director.
"It’s a great ending to what could have been a tragic ending for him," Templeman said.
Herby was abducted Saturday from a pen outside the shelter by a man who was interested in adopting him. The suspect, identified as Thomas John Miller, 30, of Medford, was visiting Herby under the supervision of a SOHS volunteer when he asked the woman some questions.
When the volunteer left to retrieve the information, Miller allegedly snatched Herby up and escaped out of a gate and into an unknown car. Police were alerted to his identity after discovering that Miller had signed the shelter’s guest book.
Aside from being hungry and thirsty, Herby was in fine condition when Judy Smith, an optician who lives in Eagle Point, found him on the busy street. Little did she know that this was no ordinary stray.
"None of us knew where this dog was from," said Jennifer Fidow, a Paden Eye Care receptionist.
The employees led Herby to a back room, where was given water and bits of ham and bread, which he "gobbled up really quickly," Fidow said.
"We’re all animal lovers here," Fidow said.
Unaware of Herby’s story, they tried to call the SOHS, but it wasn’t open. Then someone recognized Herby’s picture from the Mail Tribune story of his dognapping in Wednesday’s paper, and called police.
Herby spent most of the morning sleeping on a mat at the eye center, Fidow said.
The Humane Society staff was "ecstatic" when police arrived with Herby, Templeman said. And even though he had been stripped of his tags and identification, staff members knew it was him when he started bouncing up and down upon seeing them, Templeman said.
"He was quite happy to be back," Templeman said. Staff members checked him over and found no injuries or signs of abuse.
Templeman said SOHS staff members and volunteers will now pay more attention to people and animals outside the kennel.
Police are still searching for Miller.
"I think he needs to come in and explain himself," Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said. If convicted of Herby’s abduction, Miller faces a charge of first-degree theft.
After the reunion, Templeman called Paden Eye Care offering the Society’s $250 reward for Herby’s safe return. They declined to accept it.
"We said to just put it back in the Humane Society for the animals," Fidow said.
http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/...ies/08local.htm (http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/1027/local/stories/08local.htm)
Mail Tribune
A pooch evacuated from Katrina-ravaged New Orleans can now add dognapping to the list of scrapes he’s survived this year as he was returned Wednesday to the Southern Oregon Humane Society after three days.
Herby, a pit bull terrier mix who was found in an abandoned building in the French Quarter, was seen running along Stewart Avenue at around 8 a.m. by a Paden Eye Care employee. The woman brought the dog to the eye center and stowed him in a back room until police arrived, said Bill Templeman, SOHS executive director.
"It’s a great ending to what could have been a tragic ending for him," Templeman said.
Herby was abducted Saturday from a pen outside the shelter by a man who was interested in adopting him. The suspect, identified as Thomas John Miller, 30, of Medford, was visiting Herby under the supervision of a SOHS volunteer when he asked the woman some questions.
When the volunteer left to retrieve the information, Miller allegedly snatched Herby up and escaped out of a gate and into an unknown car. Police were alerted to his identity after discovering that Miller had signed the shelter’s guest book.
Aside from being hungry and thirsty, Herby was in fine condition when Judy Smith, an optician who lives in Eagle Point, found him on the busy street. Little did she know that this was no ordinary stray.
"None of us knew where this dog was from," said Jennifer Fidow, a Paden Eye Care receptionist.
The employees led Herby to a back room, where was given water and bits of ham and bread, which he "gobbled up really quickly," Fidow said.
"We’re all animal lovers here," Fidow said.
Unaware of Herby’s story, they tried to call the SOHS, but it wasn’t open. Then someone recognized Herby’s picture from the Mail Tribune story of his dognapping in Wednesday’s paper, and called police.
Herby spent most of the morning sleeping on a mat at the eye center, Fidow said.
The Humane Society staff was "ecstatic" when police arrived with Herby, Templeman said. And even though he had been stripped of his tags and identification, staff members knew it was him when he started bouncing up and down upon seeing them, Templeman said.
"He was quite happy to be back," Templeman said. Staff members checked him over and found no injuries or signs of abuse.
Templeman said SOHS staff members and volunteers will now pay more attention to people and animals outside the kennel.
Police are still searching for Miller.
"I think he needs to come in and explain himself," Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said. If convicted of Herby’s abduction, Miller faces a charge of first-degree theft.
After the reunion, Templeman called Paden Eye Care offering the Society’s $250 reward for Herby’s safe return. They declined to accept it.
"We said to just put it back in the Humane Society for the animals," Fidow said.
http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/...ies/08local.htm (http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2005/1027/local/stories/08local.htm)