A Newton family is reaching out to the public for any information that would lead to the safe return of their seven-month-old puppy.
Tanja Percival was walking her Shiba Inu, Kona, in Serpentine Fen area on May 25, when the leash was tugged from her hand after the red and tan dog was spooked.
"When the leash retracted behind her, she was spooked even more, so she bolted," Percival told Peace Arch News Friday.
She and her husband scoured the park looking for their lost four-legged family member, but were unable to locate her, leading the Percivals to believe someone may have picked up the dog - either intentionally or not.
"She's not a common breed and with that comes a price tag for people who may not realize she's not just a dog, she's a part of our family," Percival said. "We even hired (pet-tracking company) Petsearchers Canada but the bloodhounds couldn't pick up her scent, which leads us to think that someone grabbed her."
Tanja's husband, Peter, a Surrey firefighter, spent the days after Kona went missing putting up posters around the dog park, but has not heard back with any information.
Anyone who can help locate the dog – who was last seen wearing her bright pink harness – or who has any information is asked to call Percival at (604) 813-2582.
The family is offering an undisclosed reward.