It was a emotional reunion for a Cobourg man after he was re-united with his dog on Friday, December 27, 2019.
The drama began when Mel Shakespeare’s 2008 Land Rover was stolen in Cobourg around 11 a.m. with his five-year-old Labradoodle named Blondie.
Shakespeare was at a bank in downtown Cobourg and parked in a lot on Albert Street.
Blondie was in the Land Rover which was locked and there were no keys in the vehicle.
When Shakespeare came out of the bank he found that his vehicle had been stolen along with Blondie.
He immediately called police who issued a zone alert notifying other police agencies in the area to be on the lookout for the vehicle.
“I didn’t care that much about the car,” Shakespeare told Today’s Northumberland.
“I just wanted my dog back. She’s family. The only family I have.”
After Cobourg Police had taken the report, there was nothing left for the 78-year-old Cobourg resident, but go back to his residence and wait for any word.
But as soon as police dropped Shakespeare off at his residence, he couldn’t just sit by and do nothing.
He phoned every veterinarian and animal rescue in the area to get the word out about the stolen vehicle and his pet.
Through social media the post about the missing vehicle and animal was shared hundreds of times in a short period.
After Shakespeare did all he could at home, he phoned his friends who came over and started searching for the Land Rover.
“I said, I don’t have a car, but I need your help. Let’s go looking around town.”
While Shakespeare went with one friend in his vehicle, the other friend also began searching starting from where the vehicle was last located around 3 p.m.
“We only went a few blocks when my friend called us while we were driving and said, “I found your car!”
The vehicle was parked in MacCoubrey’s parking lot on King Street, just a few blocks from where it was stolen.
Shakespeare wasn’t sure if he would ever see Blondie again, so to get word she was found was very emotional.
‘I was broken up when I found out she was ok. I didn’t want to lose my girl.”
Ironically this was the second time the Land Rover had been stolen. The first time it was stolen right out of his driveway in Cobourg. It was found five days later in Cobourg’s east end. Undamaged, but numerous items had been taken from the vehicle.
On Friday, Shakespeare thinks the suspect/s were more interested in the vehicle then the dog, but when they saw the dog, they dumped the vehicle.
Even though his vehicle has been stolen twice in town, he has no regrets about moving to Cobourg from the country.
“I love living in town. It’s unbelievable.”
And for everyone who helped in the search for his beloved Blondie, “I want to thank all those people helping out with their concern.”
Man and his best friend are once again reunited.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
