Wheelchair Bound Man's Dog Kidnapped in Pennsylvania

The Abductor Ransomed Him Then Vanished

A crime was committed - a theft; one with more than your typical ramifications.

In the eyes of the law, a dog is considered property. Sad but true. Law or no law, this is not the sentiment of Jim and Chris Kelly who live in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.

Buster, a member of the family, loyal companion, and assistance dog to wheelchair-bound Chris Kelly (a victim of Spina Bifida), was stolen. Buster was taken away from life with his family and they are desperately trying to get him back.

March 16th was a snowy evening. Buster (a three year old pit bull mix) was eagerly waiting for his pal Chris to come home. Joe Kelly, Chris's dad was waiting too. As Chris struggled to get in the front door Buster slipped out. Excited to see the fresh snow that had fallen, he ran down the street. Mr. Kelly did not bother to grab a coat as he ran after him. In a matter of minutes, he heard someone yell, your dog has been stolen. Before Mr. Kelly knew what was going on, someone approached Buster and simply took him.

This is just the very beginning of this sad strange crime that has yet to be resolved. Mr. Kelly lost sight of the person or persons who saw this happen and no one has come forward to provide a description of the perpetrator. Devastated, the Kellys did not know what to do; a police report was filed.

The following day

Buster was wearing his rabies tag which enabled the thief to locate his veterinarian. Two phone calls were made that day. A heavily accented man called the Kelly's veterinarian and then proceeded by calling the Kelly home. The man said that he had Buster and wanted to know how much money the Kellys would be willing to give him in order to get their dog back.

A flustered Mr. Kelly hesitantly said fifty, a-hundred dollars. The following day after a report by Doug Shimell of WCAU, a local television station, aired the story, the man called the Kelly's again, now demanding $500 and spewing threats that included, "I can take this dog and sell it to people who want to use him in fighting-type situations with other dogs."