Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 04/98) - Someone out there obviously needs to get a life.

This thought has been going through the minds of Yellowknife's Sherry and Norman Boulet after a puppy they were dog-sitting was abducted from their backyard during the early morning hours of Oct. 24.

Pepper, a short-haired labrador and husky cross -- which will celebrate its three month birthday in apparent captivity Nov. 6 -- hasn't been seen since.

"We just want to know if she is alive," Sherry says. "Is she being taken care of?"

Only the thief can answer that for sure.

The Boulets say they noticed the dog was missing early Oct. 24.

"She was in the backyard," Sherry says. "Somebody broke the top board (of their fence) and got her. It took five minutes, if that...It was in the morning -- between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m."

One of the Boulets' young children noticed the puppy was missing. The family spent the rest of the day combing city streets looking for their lost charge.

They haven't stopped since.

What is making the family's pain even worse is the fact the dog isn't even theirs. Pepper belongs to family friend Doug Roland who had asked them to dog-sit for a few days.

"I feel sick because it happened at our place," Sherry says. "We don't know where else to look for her."

Despite regular calls to Pet Detective, the city's bylaw department, Great Slave Animal Hospital and searches by car, Pepper appears to remain in captivity.

"I can't understand why people would do this," Sherry says. "If this is a prank, they sure did me good...I never thought this would happen (in Yellowknife). We both came from larger towns where this sort of thing always happens. We thought Yellowknife was a nice community."

Pepper has shorter hair than its brother, Buddy, shown in the above picture. Pepper also has a small patch of white on her chest and cute little puppy paws.

Despite the crime, Sherry says her family is willing to look the other way -- if the thief returns Pepper.

"There will be no questions asked at all," she says. "If they want a puppy... I'll take them (to the owner of Pepper and Buddy's mother who has more puppies available).

Pepper was wearing a multi-coloured collar when last seen.

The thief, of course, all ready knows that.

Anyone with information which could lead to information about Pepper's whereabouts-- the thief included -- is encouraged to contact the Boulets.

Meanwhile, the search for Pepper continues.