Tonka, missing German shepherd, was stolen, says owner
'We've got his big bone here in the middle of the floor and I can't bring myself to move it'
The owner of a dog that went missing Jan. 30 in Tatamagouche, N.S., is pleading with whomever took him to bring him back.
Tonka is a 15-month-old pure-bred German shepherd that Robert Boyer and his family purchased as a puppy.
"He's a big baby," Boyer said.
Boyer, who lives on Balmoral Road in Tatamagouche, said the dog was free to roam on his large piece of land because "he never leaves the property."
Two days before Tonka disappeared, Boyer said he saw a man trying to lure his dog into a vehicle.
He believes the man subsequently returned and took the dog. The vehicle is described as an older model silver four-door car, possibly a Honda Civic or Hyundai Elantra.
Boyer has reported the theft to RCMP, but he says all he wants is for the person to return his dog.
"I just want my dog back. Just bring him back. I'll buy you a new dog. It's extremely hard," said Boyer.
Tonka's absence is being felt by the whole family.
"It's hard to get up every morning and see his bed empty. My seven-year-old son gets up every morning and cries," Boyer said. "We've got his big bone here in the middle of the floor and I can't bring myself to move it."
He said Tonka is much more than a dog. "It's like we're missing a kid here," he said.
The family has set up a Facebook site called "Bring Tonka Home."
His furry face and story have been shared on Facebook by Litters n' Critters and the Nova Scotia Lost Dog Network.
RCMP have received calls about possible sightings and have visited at least one home in the past week looking for the dog. Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester RCMP at 902-893-6820 or Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 1-800-222-8477.