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Georgia Woman Says Neighbor Held Her Missing Dog for Ransom
What began as a desperate search for a missing pet quickly turned into a nightmare for Briale James of Covington, Georgia, after she says her neighbor demanded money in exchange for the safe return of her dog.
James’s one-year-old German Shepherd–Siberian Husky mix, Cali, went missing just before Labor Day. Heartbroken, she posted online and canvassed the neighborhood. Two days later, she received a message that seemed like good news—someone had Cali. But the relief was short-lived. The sender insisted they wouldn’t give Cali back unless James paid $200 via Zelle or Apple Pay.
When the person sent photos of Cali, James noticed the curtains in the background matched those of a home just 400 feet away. To her shock, her dog had been nearby the entire time. “It took everything within me not to knock on her door myself,” James said. Instead, she stayed on the phone with police.
Rather than returning the dog, the neighbor surrendered Cali to animal control. Deputies later confirmed the neighbor admitted to holding the dog, claiming the $200 demand was “compensation” for carpet damage Cali allegedly caused. Authorities explained that since the woman voluntarily took Cali in, she was responsible for any damage—and legally obligated to return the dog.
James eventually reunited with Cali after navigating two different animal control facilities, but the ordeal left her shaken. “You just don’t know what somebody is going through. You don’t use people. You don’t do that to people,” she said, noting that Cali is her emotional support dog and plays a vital role in helping her manage past trauma.
Pet FBI, a national lost-and-found pet database, says cases like this happen often. Leslie Poole of the nonprofit explained, “If they prove to you that they do have your pet and they still are asking for money, that’s illegal.”
The Newton County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating. Prosecutors could pursue theft of lost or mislaid property charges, which may be filed as either a misdemeanor or felony depending on Cali’s value. Authorities are reminding pet owners that if anyone demands money for the return of a missing animal, they should not negotiate—call 911 immediately.
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This content was created with AI assistance and edited by the iHeartDogs team.
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