Community comes together to reunite stolen dog with family

Officer sits in parked cruiser car with stolen dog, Iris
Arrangements have been made to reunite Iris with her family in Regina as they continue their journey West.

Over the weekend, social media feeds lit up with urgent pleas for help locating a small dog stolen from a family's vehicle passing through town. We are overjoyed to share that this little dog is being reunited with its owners, thanks to the collective efforts of a caring community and dedicated police officers.

On Saturday, June 8th, a military family travelling from Ontario to Alberta experienced a distressing event when their vehicle was broken into in north Winnipeg. Among the stolen items were their crated dog, Iris, some identification, and personal belongings. With no choice but to continue their journey due to their redeployment, the family filed a police report and placed their trust in the goodwill of Winnipeggers to help bring Iris back to them.

The community's response was nothing short of extraordinary. Concerned citizens, driven by a shared sense of empathy, amplified the search for Iris through social media as the North District Community Support Unit followed up on leads that were being shared.

A compassionate individual, touched by the community's concern, spotted Iris and promptly took her to Winnipeg Animal Services, who in turn notified investigators, making this reunion possible.

One of the investigators has generously volunteered to care for Iris temporarily. Arrangements have also been made to meet the family in Regina as they continue their journey.

This story is a testament to the power of community and the positive impact of social media when used for good. It highlights the dedication of our police officers and the inherent kindness within our community. A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who shared posts and kept an eye out for Iris. Your efforts made all the difference and exemplify the incredible things we can achieve when we come together.

Was this information helpful?

How can we make this web page better?

Information collected will be used to improve our website. Do not use this form to submit a request for service or information because it will not be forwarded to departments for response. To submit a request for service or information, contact 311.

This form is not intended to collect personal information; however, any personal information you choose to include in your comments is collected by the City of Winnipeg under the authority of section 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of improving our website and will not be used or disclosed for any other purposes, except as authorized by law. Contact the Corporate Access and Privacy Officer by mail (City Clerk’s Department, Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street, Winnipeg MB, R3B 1B9) or by telephone (311) if you have any questions about the collection of this information.