Dog-nappers Collared! Local lost dog claimed by false owners
BY TARYN FITSIK - WTEN News
ALBANY, N.Y.--A local dog is reunited with its owners, after it was first lost and then claimed by strangers, in an alleged effort to make money.
But it was a happy reunion Wednesday for Binah Bindell and her dog Zorro, who has been missing since last Friday, and then allegedly claimed by a false owner.
"What they did by claiming a dog that was lost is stealing, and this dog is worth over $2,000," says April Orcutt.
Crcutt volunteers with a local animal rescue group, and when she found out her neighbor's cavalier king charles spaniel was missing, she jumped into action.
Orcutt located the man who had found the dog, and found out he had put an announcement on Craigslist, not knowing who it belonged to.
"Three hours later he got a call from two women, who said this was their dog, and who came and collected the dog," says Orcutt. "The dog acted like he knew them, and they also brought a little girl with them. The girl got on her hands and knees and said come here Charlie, and the dog ran to her."
Orcutt says through more research online, she found out the dog had been placed on Craigslist and e-Bay classified, and re-sold to a woman who lives in Ticonderoga for $400.
Orcutt contacted the woman, which ultimately led to today's reunion.
Both the dog's owner and Orcutt says the whole ordeal points to something bigger, how they believe the alleged "false owners" are called "flippers", falsely claiming a dog as their own, and then selling it.
Luckily for Bindell, her story has a happy ending.
"I thought I would never see him again, but I had this gut feeling, I was going to get him back," she says.
Bindell believes to know who the alleged false owner is, and has contacted the Bethlehem Police Department, wanting to press charges.
Police say the entire case is currently under investigation.
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S NISSAN e SPECIALS
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S VOLVO e SPECIALS
CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S e USED CAR SPECIALS
