Dog flipping, a distressing scheme where pets are stolen and then offered for sale on online platforms like Craigslist, became a stark reality for a family residing in northwest Harris County. Last December, their beloved 11-year-old terrier, Sushi, went missing, plunging the family into worry and a desperate search.
Sushi’s escape through a backyard fence hole marked the beginning of their ordeal. On the very same day, an unsettling phone call reached Kara Lowe’s husband, inquiring about a missing dog. Despite the family’s immediate search yielding no results, they contacted the number from the strange call. However, the person on the other end denied any knowledge of a dog, raising suspicions within the Lowe family.
Weeks later, a glimmer of hope emerged when an advertisement featuring a dog strikingly similar to Sushi surfaced on Craigslist.com. An initial attempt to confront the seller proved futile, and the trail went cold, leaving the family disheartened but not entirely defeated.
The breakthrough arrived a few days ago with a new Craigslist.com posting. This time, Kara Lowe took the initiative, contacting the seller and arranging a meeting. The rendezvous was set for a Friday afternoon in a Sam’s Club parking lot in Cypress. Upon meeting the seller and seeing the dog, doubt clouded Lowe’s initial optimism. “I didn’t think it was her,” she recounted. “Her coat was a different color. She’d been dyed.” Adding to the uncertainty, the dog seemed unfamiliar, showing no immediate recognition.
Despite these doubts, Lowe proceeded with the transaction. “Fifty dollars, and for me, it was priceless,” Lowe explained. “I figured even if it wasn’t Sushi, it was somebody’s dog that we could save and try to return.” Fortunately, such measures were unnecessary. Lowe’s friend, an animal rescuer who accompanied her, brought along a microchip reader. The scan confirmed the incredible truth – the dog was indeed Sushi.
By Friday afternoon, Sushi was back home, seemingly rekindling memories of her past life. She was observed playing with the family’s children and their other dog, reintegrating into the family dynamic she was stolen from. For Kara Lowe, Sushi is more than just a pet; she represents 11 years of cherished history, a constant companion before marriage and children.
Lowe offers valuable advice to other pet owners facing the nightmare of a lost pet: diligently check websites like Craigslist.com and proactively investigate any leads. Furthermore, she emphasizes the critical importance of microchipping pets as a permanent form of identification and a crucial tool for reunification, as demonstrated in Sushi’s heartwarming return.
