'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
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.