A four-legged resident of Kelowna has gone missing.
Atlas, a one and a half-year-old golden retriever, was lured from his yard and taken into a dark coloured SUV March 8, according to a social media post that has been shared more than 1,000 times on Facebook.
The golden retriever was in a gated back yard in Ian Galt’s yard while his son, and Atlas’ owner, Taylor is out of town for work.
“He is a really special dog,” said Taylor.
“The fact that I am not even there to help and I’m up north, it really puts a dagger into my chest.”
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Taylor says that Atlas has a distinctive white stripe of fur down the centre of his chest and he has a completely black nose with the exception of some pink in the very centre. Atlas is very friendly and rarely barks.
Taylor worries that someone took him hoping to sell Atlas online to make a profit.
“I can’t imagine how this is for him, being taken from what he knows and being with a stranger, I feel so bad,” he said.
Ian says that Atlas was playing with his daughter’s dog, Jones, when he heard the heavy gate latch be lifted and the gate dragged across the cement. He then saw a woman running down the road with her hands in her pockets with Atlas running after her.
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“I whistled and I called his name, then I whistled again. He usually responds nine times out of 10 and then he turned, hesitated, turned back and jumped into a vehicle.”
The house is two blocks away from Kelowna General Hospital and Ian last saw Atlas at the corner of Burtch Road and Pandosy Street after he hopped into the SUV that he described as being darkened by dirt.
Ian has been using security footage from a neighbour’s camera to help identify who the woman is.
Taylor says that the outpouring of help from his community has been heartwarming.
“It adds hope to such a sad event, I’m just pretty much at a loss for words. It’s very hard to grasp this,” he said. “I have had him since he was eight weeks old… dogs are more than pets, they are our children, they are part of the family.”
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More than 300 people have commented, offering their condolences and sharing the post on their own Facebook pages to raise awareness and help bring Atlas home.
RCMP have been notified, and are working with the family to find Atlas.
The family is offering $2,000 reward no questions asked. If found please contact Ian Galt at 250-212-3858.
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