'He's part of our family': Stolen dog reunited with owners thanks to social media, kind strangers
Garry Henderson adopted his 10-year-old border collie Ollie eight years ago.
He’s a rescue dog who finally found his forever home.
“He’s part of our family,” Henderson told CTV News.
On Tuesday evening, Ollie was stolen from outside a Yaletown business, but thanks to what Metro Vancouver Transit Police (MVTP) called "seamless teamwork with frontline transit staff," the dog was recovered in less than 10 hours.
The MVTP shared Ollie's story in a news release Wednesday, explaining that the dog's owner had briefly tied him up outside the business around 5:30 p.m.
When Henderson returned, his dog was gone, and so began an hours-long search in the downtown core.
"We never knew that while we were down there, he was on a SkyTrain heading to Lougheed Mall,” he said.
His daughter shared their story online and the posts quickly spread, eventually reaching a transit worker who just finished her shift around 2 a.m at Gilmore Station. She remembered seeing a woman board the train with a dog that looked like Ollie.
“She thought it was odd, a little bit out of place,” said Const. Amanda Steed of MVTP.
The attendant quickly reached out to colleagues in the area who also noticed a woman with a dog who looked like Ollie from social media on the Number 9 bus near Lougheed Station. The sighting was then reported to transit police.
“Without the social media posts – with people tweeting and retweeting and reposting, and getting that photo out there of Ollie – I don’t think that SkyTrain attendant would have maybe paid any mind to it,” Steed said.
“If it wasn’t for social media, he could be somewhere in Coquitlam and we might never have found him again,” Henderson added.
Transit police asked Coast Mountain Bus Company to put out an alert to all bus operators with a description of the suspect and the dog. Sure enough, a Number 9 bus operator recognized the suspect and Ollie aboard their bus, and "provided police with real-time updates," MVTP said.
Officers intercepted the bus and located Ollie, who was unharmed. Police left the dog in the company of Coast Mountain security officers until he was reunited with his family at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
“I can’t tell you how relieved I am. Last night was one of the most stressful nights of our life,” Henderson said.
MVTP arrested a 35-year-old woman from North Vancouver for theft and possession of stolen property. Authorities said she is known to police.
Still shaken up, Henderson is grateful to everyone who helped in the search and said he will be extra vigilant when going out with Ollie.
“Transit police are proud to have been able to play a role in a heartwarming ending to a situation that would be any pet owner’s worst nightmare," said Steed in a news release.
"We are deeply grateful for the relationships that our officers and dispatchers have with the frontline staff at SkyTrain and Coast Mountain Bus. Truly, teamwork is the reason that Ollie is now back at home with his family.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.