BERKELEY — A conscientious officer’s choice led to a happy ending for a dog and his owner, authorities say.
About 5 p.m. Tuesday, a resident took her dog for a walk and stopped at a store in the 1600 block of University Avenue. The woman tied up the dog, Rex, outside while she shopped; when she returned, her wire-haired terrier and his leash were gone, Berkeley police said.
After contacting police, an officer was able to create and distribute a flyer with a photograph to alert other officers that Rex was missing and might have been stolen.
On Wednesday morning, Officer Hugo Ordaz saw a dog in a nearby car’s driver seat and recognized its resemblance to the flyer. When he gestured to the dog to sit up, he was able to see its collar, which was engraved with the name Rex.
Ordaz later learned that the car’s owner and his daughters had seen Rex in the parking lot, and that the dog had come over when the man whistled at him. The man said he had planned to call the phone number on the collar after finishing work.
Police urge residents who see wandering pets to call the department’s animal care services division at 510-981-6600, and remind owners that lost pets may appear on the division’s PetHarbor.com site.
If missing pets don’t appear at the shelter, located at 1 Bolivar Drive, owners can fill out reports to keep on file and return every two to three days to check, post flyers with photos and accurate descriptions in public places and local businesses, and notify neighbors by putting flyers under doormats or speaking to them face-to-face.
Owners should also consider that crawl spaces, garages, sheds and other enclosed spaces may prove irresistible for cats seeking hiding places or exploring for adventures, and remember that unneutered cats and dogs can roam more broadly than altered animals. Officials say it’s another reason to get pets spayed or neutered.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.