An executive of a company that owns five resorts in Mexico is offering a free Cancun vacation for anyone who can help find his sister's dog.
Chris Gardner says that Charlie -- who looks like a black Labrador and has a red collar -- has been missing from his Vernon, B.C., home since last Saturday, and he's going to do anything he can to help bring the dog home.
"My sister's dog has gone missing and we're desperate to find him," Gardner told CTV News on the phone from Cancun.
"We've tried everything, and at this point, we're willing to offer one of your CTV viewers a five-day, four-night vacation at a resort for anyone who has information leading to his whereabouts," he said. "We just need to get him back."
A typical vacation in Cancun costs about $200-$280 per night, said Gardner, who is the vice-president of Premier Cancun Vacations. That puts the total value of the vacation he's offering at more than $800.
Charlie was adopted about two and a half years ago from the SPCA, said Gardner's sister, Kim Terrico.
"He's a fun-loving dog, he's got a big white chest and a tattoo," she said from her home in Vernon.
On Saturday, April 19th, Terrico's door didn't shut properly, the wind blew it open, she said. That's when Charlie must have run out of the yard, she said.
When Terrico's landlord saw the door was open, the landlord got in touch with Terrico's husband, and they searched the neighbourhood.
When Terrico got home from a trip on Monday morning, she joined the search as well, putting up posters.
After Charlie had been missing for a week, the family put ads in the newspaper, and set up an e-mail address for people to contact if they see Charlie: returnmydog@gmail.com.
Then they heard some good news.
"A gentleman called us on Sunday to let us know that Charlie had been in his backyard the previous night," Terrico recalled. "He fed him, Charlie played with his kids, but Charlie took off."
That was in the Enderby and Armstrong area, about 30 km away from Vernon, said Terrico.
It's been three days since then and the family is looking for more clues, so Gardner offered to post the reward.
"Hopefully this will show someone that we're serious about getting him back," said Terrico.