Jaxx is back: Owner recovers dog stolen during vehicle theft
A dog at the centre of a search after the vehicle he was in was stolen, has finally been found and reunited with his owners.
“At first I was like, ‘Oh, this is just another siting,’” said Austin Flegel, who admitted feeling like he’d lost his dog forever, even as his mom relentlessly continued to send him pictures of found dogs posted online.
“Every day there’s been pictures of dogs from my mom but this time, she sent me a picture and I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s him,’” he said.
Within minutes of seeing the picture Saturday morning, Flegel and his family were scouring a property next to the Can-Am RV Centre on Colonel Talbot Road in south London — and that’s where they found Jaxx.
"He was really scared,” recounted Flegel. “We'd walk up to him and try and get him but he would shy away."
Police are looking for "Jaxx" after the truck he was in was stolen on June 6, 2022. (Source: London Police Service)
Even treats didn’t help lure him closer, so they called in help to retrieve Jaxx.
Jaxx’s original owners then came out to lend a hand.
"They showed up really quick. They were there in like 20 minutes and as soon as they showed up, they got him in like five minutes. He came to them and we got him some food and everything and he kind of relaxed a little bit,” said Flegel.
Earlier this month, CTV News London reported Austin Flegel and Ruby DeGroot had just adopted the one-and-a-half-year-old mastiff-shepherd mix when he went missing around 4:30 p.m. on June 6.
Flegel and his girlfriend had just picked him up from the previous owner less than an hour earlier and were making a brief stop at a north London pet store to get items for the newest member of their family.
"He was way too scared [to come in]. He was shaking and we didn't want to terrify him even more by bringing him inside,” the couple said on June 7.
When they came out after about five minutes, the pick-up truck and Jaxx were gone.
The truck belonged to Flegel’s parents, but his mom, Sherry, said the only was concern was getting Jaxx back and told CTV News, “It was just a breath of relief because they say it’s so small chances by the 19th day to even have a hope of getting him back. So, just a relief.”
Austin Flegel gets nuzzles from Jaxx, a one-and-a-half-year-old shepherd-mastiff mix that was taken when a truck was stolen earlier in June. Austin and Jaxx were reunited on June 25, 2022. (Gerry Dewan/CTV News London)When they found him, Jaxx had lost a little weight and was covered in ticks.
“He was walking around in the brush, probably about this tall on me,” said Flegel gesturing chest-high. “So, yeah, he was covered in ticks. We pulled probably about 40 ticks off of him.”
Jaxx was headed to the vet on Monday but, by all indications, he’s doing well, other than a little separation anxiety according to Sherry Flegel.
“If Austin goes to leave he’s like ‘Wait a minute. What’s going on?’” she said.
The family said that, from now on, someone will be in the vehicle with Jaxx at all times.
In the meantime, the search for the missing pick-up continues. It’s a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado with a distinctive orange trim on the hood and grill, and license plate number AP44762.
Austin said it has been spotted in the area, but he’s putting all his focus on Jaxx.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.