Duke, black lab

Moon police work quickly to reunite stolen dog, SUV with owner
By Jill King Greenwood, Tribune-Review
Thursday, July 3, 2008

Timothy Lansberry walked out of a Sheetz convenience store Tuesday to find his Cadillac Escalade was stolen.

But Lansberry of Chippewa wasn't worried about the luxury SUV, or the wallet and cell phone he had left inside.

He cared only about his constant companion, Duke, a 12-year-old black Labrador retriever who accompanies him on his job as a contractor and was waiting in the vehicle, with the windows partially rolled down, while Lansberry and his co-workers grabbed a quick, late lunch.

"I couldn't believe Duke let anyone he didn't know inside the truck, and I was doing some serious praying," said Lansberry, 37.

"I didn't care about the truck and the other stuff. But my dog is my buddy. I was pretty upset."

He turned to Moon police officers who happened to be at the Sheetz. The police department and Sprint Communications worked to track Lansberry's cell phone signal, and located the Escalade at Beaver Valley Mall.

Officers arrested Michael Anthony Hudak, 23, of Clinton in the theft, said Moon police Chief Leo McCarthy.

But Duke was nowhere to be found.

Police said Hudak at first told them some men at the mall gave him the truck and that no dog was inside. But Moon police watched surveillance footage from the Sheetz store, which captured images of Hudak getting into the truck. He then admitted he dumped the dog, police said.

When officers checked with the Beaver County Humane Society, they learned a woman in Independence Township found the dog wandering on a rural road, took him inside and called Humane Society officials.

"He goes everywhere with me and never leaves my side, so I don't even have a collar or tag on him," said Lansberry, who was relieved when an officer called a police dispatcher to report, "We got him."

"When I heard he wasn't in the car ... I thought the worst," Lansberry said.

He and Duke and the Escalade were reunited about three hours after the ordeal began.

"It's like they had an Amber Alert out for my dog," Lansberry said. "The police took action immediately. I am so grateful."

Police said Hudak used Lansberry's debit card at three gas stations and a shoe store, and police found a crack pipe and drug paraphernalia in the SUV. Hudak was charged with theft, receiving stolen property, possessing drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

"So many things came together, and people worked hard and this is a great ending to the story," said McCarthy. "Too often, it doesn't always happen that way."

Source: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_575782.html
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