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Batman the missing terrier cross is back in B.C. home

Just days after he was taken, police bring dog back to owner
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A few days after he was taken while waiting for his owner outside a store, two police cruisers brought Batman the terrier cross back to his Murrayville home. (Special to Langley Advance Times)

Batman is home.

A few days after the six-year-old Yorkie/Chihuahua/Pomeranian cross, was taken from outside the Dollarama store in Langleyѻýs Murrayville Square, the missing dog returned, in a police cruiser.

Murrayville resident Johanna Vandyk said just a few minutes after her mother phoned her to let her know the police had been in touch, two RCMP cruisers pulled up outside her house, lights flashing, with a subdued Batman in the front passenger seat of one vehicle.

ѻýHe was happy to see us. He kissed us and everything, but he wasnѻýt all jumping up and down and and excited to be home,ѻý Vandyk said.

  Batman, so named because he had facial marking like a Batman mask as a puppy, had been shaved, including his whiskers.

ѻýHe looked really lethargic,ѻý Vandyk described.

ѻýHe got a little [welcome home] party, and gave hugs and kisses all around, but he wouldnѻýt eat his treats.ѻý

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 That was on Wednesday night, Dec 13.

By Friday, Batman was eating again and starting to act more like his normal bouncy and energetic self.

ѻýHeѻýs starting to show signs of improvement.ѻý

Batman was taken Monday night, Dec. 11, when Vandyk left him on a leash outside the store in Murrayville.

Usually Vandykѻýs other dog, Bowie, a Pyrenees, would have been there to keep the tiny pup company, but the larger dog was in need of some washing-up, so he stayed at home.

ѻýI normally bring both my dogs [to the store].ѻý

After Batman disappeared, a distraught Vandyk made a public appeal, telling the Langley Advance Times that the terrier cross may not be not worth a lot of money, ѻýbut heѻýs worth everything to me [and my husband]. Iѻýve had him since he was born. Heѻýs our baby.ѻý

Vandyk said after she went public, she was phoned by the mother of a 25-year-old man who, with his girlfriend, had just acquired a new dog.

After seeing Batmanѻýs picture, the mom identified the dog, and told Vandyk if her son, whom she described as troubled, didnѻýt give Batman up, she would call the police.

A day later, officers showed up at Vandykѻýs home with the missing Batman.

Vandyk called the mother an ѻýangelѻý for intervening, and thanked the many people who helped get the word out.

ѻýIt was amazing how many people turned up with ways to help, and just spread our plight around,ѻý she said.

ѻýIt was like a wildfire. All of you are truly amazing and we will never forget it.ѻý

She added she will never leave Batman unattended outside a store again.

ѻýI felt very safe doing that [up till now] because Iѻýve lived in this neighborhood for eight years, and go to that store probably five to four times a week.ѻý

Vandyk also had a message for the young couple, who she was told, claimed they thought Batman had been abandoned.

ѻýWe are praying for the young couple to do some serious investigating on the subject, before you make such a rash decision. You could have destroyed a dogѻýs happy home and turned his and our worlds completely upside down. You know a little bit of Batman now. Couldnѻýt you see he was a loved little dog?ѻý

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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

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