Fido, Is That You?

Mission Hills.  After two years, SMUTH was lost, found, rescued, fixed, identified, “ransomed,” and returned.  It’s the story of the prodigal dog, sort of. 

Two years ago, Smuth, a female Shih tzu-Pekingese mix, went missing from her Mission Hills home.  Her owner, 79-year-old, retired teacher Adeline Cruz, never thought she’d see her precious dog again.  Then she got a call from a dog rescue which had been given the dog last March.  Smuth had been found in Canoga Park by a meter reader, who gave the dog to a resident of the street.  That resident had friends at the rescue.

The rescue group had Smuth bathed, fixed and a small growth taken off her head, with a cost of $289.00  When the veterinarian scanned the dog for a chip, her true owner was discovered.  The rescue called Ms. Cruz and wanted full payment of the dog’s care in return for Smut; that’s when Ms. Cruz called police.

“Since the vet costs were not authorized by the owner, the rescue technically could not hold the dog for ransom,” explained Det. Samer Issa, who works at the Mission Detective Division.  “While she might seem like family, dogs are property, and in this case, found property and the owner had a right to it.”

After Det. Issa explained the law, the rescue agreed to return the dog and Ms. Cruz agreed to make a donation to the rescue.

“It was very gratifying to be involved like this,” Det. Issa added.  “We were happy to be able to reunite Smuth with her owner.  It was more like returning a lost child than lost property, and everybody was happy, especially Smuth.”  Today is Ms. Cruz’s birthday and she said getting Smuth back was the best present ever.

Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.