Dog being held for ransom, owner says

A Woodland woman told the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office that her missing dog was stolen and is being held for ransom.

Jennifer Thomas said her dog, an English bulldog named Jaggar, went missing about two weeks ago. She suspects someone who visited her home on Oct. 4 took Jaggar while she was on the phone, she told The Columbian on Tuesday.

At first, she didn’t realize he was missing.

“There was just something wrong because he’s always there,” she said.

She said her dog never leaves her yard and neighbors didn’t report seeing him the day he disappeared.

Several days later, she said she got threatening text messages from a number she doesn’t recognize asking for prescription pain medicine and cash in exchange for Jaggar. She was told if she went to the police or didn’t cooperate, the next message she received would come with photos of the dog being tortured, she said.

She asked for a photo of her dog to make sure he was still alive, she said. The texter eventually agreed and sent a photo of her dog, she said.

From there, she took the case to the sheriff’s office. It now has an ongoing investigation for theft and extortion related to the case.

Thomas hopes to get her dog back. She said she isn’t really a dog person but is very attached to Jaggar.

“Of course, I want him back,” Thomas said. “Right now, I have a feeling that he’s not alive. It’s not knowing” that’s driving her crazy.

The case drew national media attention after it was picked up by Huffington Post.

Anyone who has information related to the case is asked to call Deputy Laura Thurman or Chief Deputy Corey Huffine at 360-577-3092. Anonymous tipsters can call Crime Stoppers at 360-577-1206.