It's every dog owner's nightmare. What if your dog was out of sight for barely half an hour and, when you returned…the dog was gone?
Most dog owners would say they'd be devastated, heartbroken, even inconsolable. Dogs, and all pets really, become such a major part of our lives. When they're taken from us, it's like someone has taken an actual part of us away.
This is why Terry and Lorie Travis of Alberta, Canada were so bereaved when their precious Yorkshire terrier Dixie was stolen from them by two men who broke into their car for the expressed purpose of dognapping.
Terry and Lorie had driven nine hours from their summer home in Texas to celebrate the Graceland festivities in honor of what would have been Elvis's 80th birthday. It was a trip they'd been looking forward to all summer, but one that left them devastated instead.
Two weeks later, however, they received some very exciting news that you'll want to read about.
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WMC Action News 5 – Memphis, Tennessee
It's every dog owner's nightmare: Your beloved pet is abruptly stolen from you. Clearly, this adorable Yorkshire terrier would be the envy of anyone, but her owners never thought that this would happen to them.
The night before the exciting Elvis birthday festivities, Lorie and Travis had dinner here at the China Inn Buffet on Elvis Presley Blvd.
When they finished dining, they returned to their car only to discover it had been broken into and their beloved pet had been dognapped. They were devastated and inconsolable. Their trip was ruined, but most importantly, they were missing an important part of their family. Lorie appeared on the nightly news to beg whoever stole Dixie to, "please bring my dog back."
Security footage from outside the restaurant shows two men who pulled up, got out, broke into the car, and stole Dixie. Police used this footage to try to find the culprits.
Lorie and Travis set up a Facebook page to try to find Dixie, and spoke to all of the local Memphis news outlets. But after a week of searching, they feared the worst and went back to their Texas home.
Just a little over one week later, they got the call they so desperately needed. Members of the community had notified police that they believed they had seen Dixie...though she clearly had been given a haircut.
Police responded to this home where they did, indeed, find a Yorkshire terrier. They were able to take the dog into the station, and through microchip testing, confirmed that it was Dixie.
The police held onto this grateful pup as Lorie and Travis drove overnight to get their dog. Currently, the officers have three men in custody.
Lorie and Travis wept with joy once the lucky pooch was back in their arms. An anonymous citizen donated a free hotel stay at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis so that Lorie and Travis could still relax after their terrifying ordeal.
The managers of Graceland, so moved by their story, even offered a private tour of the estate to all three of them. Graceland does not usually allow dogs onto the property, but they made an exception for these Elvis fans.
Following the terrible tragedy, the family had said that they'd never return to Memphis — but the community gathered to support them and did everything they could to get the Yorkie back to her family. Fortunately, it all had a happy ending.
Please be careful and microchip your pets! This could happen to you.
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