I think the PI idea is a good one also.

Something else, that most people don't realize, is that if they have a cell phone number, the police could force the cell company to tell them where that phone is. They know where a cell is via triangulation of the towers that the cell connects to. (assuming phone is turned on) I doubt the police will pressure the cell phone company. If it were a missing child, that would be a totally different matter.

I would also still try the DMV thing. What have you got to lose?

--Dan

I have tried PIs, local and not local. None of them would help despite having the money to pay for everything. They just were not interested in my problem Too busy to bother with lost dogs I got told by one guy. I contacted all the places I could find and the consensus was the same.

I am quite unhappy at the moment. I called this morning and left a message. No return call. So I just called again about half an hour ago, been on the phone ever since.

Apparently nothing has been put in my file about the sighting on Friday, or that an officer came out to get the pictures and that there is any address, the license plate number is not even in on record, anywhere. She could not get ahold of either officer (the one I spoke to/saw Saturday or the officer originally in charge of the case) but left messages for both.

I tell you, if this ISN'T Cajun I'm going to have a melt down.

Oh jeez Jennifer.

Listen, you are quite the trooper, I'll tell you. I would have already had a meltdown.

First of all, about the PI thing, what the ----??? They're too busy? What industry tells a would-be client "Nope, we're too busy for more business"? So if it was a missing child they'd say the same thing? I doubt it. If it was a cheating spouse, maybe someone well known in the area, guaranteee they'd jump on that. So at the end of the day, they're turning you down because you want help finding a dog?

What imbeciles. Who gives a damn if they are being hired to find a bag of marshmallows!! Money is money!

Listen, Jennifer, if you really can't find a reputable PI, then I think you're left with two alternatives:

1) Change tactics...physically go to the police department every day. It's very easy for people to give very little on the phone. Much harder to do with the person standing right there. Make your dog matter to them. I don't know how exactly...it depends on the personalities of these officers. Tears might be effective for one but not another. Logic might prevail on yet another. Just go there and find out.

2) You mentioned you had a friend who was a journalist. If this is the case, I'd hire him/her to get your story in the paper.

Of course, you want to be careful not to alienate the officers who are supposed to be doing something but at the same time, they don't appear to be doing a bloody thing - they haven't even jotted a license plate number down? Not good.

Jennifer, be proactive! You seem to be left with no other choice.

Judy, I don't have any journalist friends, I think that was part of Daniel's suggestion. I tried getting this story in the paper when Cajun was first taken, I contacted the local news papers and news stations and was either ignored or told I don't have a story. There were some other details to that but I don't want to start an internet riot so I will refrain from mentioning at the moment.

I have had really no luck with this, me and my posters and pictures and calling vets and animal control thats all, just me and people, relatives and friends, keeping an eye out for him.

There are not many PI companies here. 2 local and the rest were out of Portland or northern Cali. I don't remember the names, it's been months since I contacted any of them. The reason they said they had no time for a dog is that it would be all stakeout work and they don't have the manpower or time for that kind of surveillance. To be fair only one guy told me that they don't have time for a dog but as you said, if it were a missing child they wouldn't have any problem.

It's been frustrating. The whole ordeal has been. I'm really starting to lose my cool. The more I think about it the worse I feel.

Jennifer
Maybe you could get more information if you went to all the likely used car lots and asked about the guy in whatever car he had with the big barking dog. If he has filled out any paperwork you will have him.

Hang in there. As you know, nothing worthwhile is easy.

Right now, you've got hope and help on your side. And an army of people routing and praying for you and for Cajun's safe return.

Listen, did you think about calling a local TV station again? I know you said they didn't feel you have a story but maybe try again? Maybe now that someone spotted him (possibly him) they feel that's enough of a twist to get a story?

If you're not getting anywhere with the officers maybe there is an officer on the board here who will step in and make a phone call to them for you? I don't know a single LEO but word on the street is that they help each other out .

Maybe another LEO calling on your behalf will get their attention? You've spent a lot of time and energy helping everyone on this board, sharing your insightful posts, taking the time to educate others who are not as educated as you are on wolves, etc.

It would be nice if an LEO on here could help you. Just a thought.

I am a little cautious about putting a lot of pressure on the police. most police are decent folk who have their 'priorities' dictated by the brass above. it is entirely likely that IF a Police officer has run to a cold lead on the MV license -- we are back to square 1. telling the PD that you will not prosecute is sometimes also a cause of your case to go to the bottom of the case heap -- so don't ever do that 'up front.' Jen -- i do think you have enough evidence to have eliminated the possibility that cajun 'jumped the fence' -- e g no dog hair caught on the barb wire, no previous episodes of his random fence-jumping -- and dogs just dont jump fences for zero reason. more likely is -- someone bent your gate open to lure cajun out, and it is likely the evildoer. There is a great misconception about whether the criminal justice system will 'get your money or property back. the objective of the criminal (DA-type ) prosecution is to prove the accused committed a crime. if the qccused is convicted of a crime the police usually retain the stolen goods and turn them over to the rightful owner. if the police cannot /do not obtain a conviction, then to get the stolen goods back you must sue in small claims court (under $25,000 is a 'small claim' in most states -- Wow !) some gentle pressure on the police - a call every few DAYS not 2x a day-- may keep your case at the fore front. get your local friends to scout the car dealer and see if the car dealer can tell you who w as the driver of the car-- or get some one to run the license plate....or look for that car all over .. trailing around near the house of the car-driver might lead to more good evidence -- . good luck, my heart goes out to you .

Some cell phone companies have a number look up, you can type it in and see if a name pops up in connection with that number.
Here it is pretty easy to narrow down which company the phone is connected to by the prefix.

I just talked to my husband and in oklahoma at least you can go to the department of transportation and have them run the tags and you get back name address etc.

You might to find out if you can do that in oregon, walking into the police station with address, phone number, names etc might make it more likely that someone will go over and check it out.

Hi jen - a little more procedural thought here:well i recall reading homer's iliad.homer came back from the wars and the only one who recognized him was his dog. jen , if you think a dog is cajun, call him to you. if cajun comes running to you , get ahold of him and then CALL THE POLCIE and hget into an intellectual debate with the crook who stole him. seems to me that someone either STOLE cajun or FOUND cajun. under the law, the one and only TRUE OWNER has rights over ANYONE else who stole found or bought that dog--including a 'bona fide purchaser.' so even if someone says I BOUGHT THAT DOG-- under the law, you as the True and Real Owner have greater rights than he/she. a little self help here-- you see a Cajun-type dog, you call CAJUN COME !!!, if that dog is your long lost you will know it and then WITH the dog, you dont leave the scene , you CALL THE POLICE immediately, telling the officer you have 911 need of their HELP ASAP to recover YOUR rightful stolen property.. that way the cops are on your side asap and you dont get into a brawl with the crook who took cajun.....