‘Home sweet home’: Dog taken in alleged carjacking found safe after rough 24 hours | CBC News

For Roxy, a four-year-old Labrador retriever, it’s been a rough 24 hours.

The much-beloved chocolate lab went missing during an alleged carjacking in Etobicoke Wednesday morning, when a man allegedly made off with an SUV while she was still inside. Toronto police say the dog and the suspect were found at a Brampton home on Thursday, thanks to a tip from the public.

Speaking to CBC Toronto after her rescue Thursday, her owner, Josh Miller, said Roxy will be given plenty of treats following her ordeal. 

“There she is. Home sweet home,” Miller said as Roxy walked in front of the camera wagging her tail and snuggled with him.

Miller said it was “very stressful” to lose her temporarily and “such a relief” to get her back. He said the dog appears to be in good health.

“She’s great. She’s exhausted. She’s been sleeping a lot… I know she’s got like a little scrape on one of her little elbows, but yeah, she’s good,” Miller said.

Miller said police received several tips about the dog while she was missing, some that sounded like good news and others that sounded like bad news.

“It was a huge roller coaster of emotions that fortunately ended up really, really well,” he said.

Miller said the incident began right after he dropped his daughter off at middle school on Wednesday with Roxy in the car. He was still in the parking lot when a man then approached his window.

“He was walking very aggressively and yelling… He came right up to me and he said ‘Get out of the car right now or I’m going to have to start hurting kids at the school,’ something along those lines,” Miller said.

‘Lots of love, some treats and… a little special dog bone’

Miller said it was only after he got out of the car after grabbing his phone that he realized Roxy was still inside. 

“And then it wasn’t until a minute or two after when I realized, ‘Oh my god, I forgot that our dog is in there.’ And then, yeah, from that moment until earlier this afternoon when we got her back, I just felt absolutely sick. But fortunately everything has worked out.”

Miller said his wife and his two children were in shock when they found out what happened but understood that the carjacking happened quickly.

“I was kicking myself, obviously, after for not remembering to get her out of the car. But I’m glad I don’t have to think about that anymore and have that regret.”

Miller’s stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee was found Thursday shortly after 11 p.m. by Peel Regional Police in the area of Hurontario Street and Mayfield Road in Brampton, but without Roxy or the suspect, according to Toronto police. 

Police said the suspect behind the alleged carjacking, a 39-year-old Alliston, Ont. man, is now in custody.

The man has been charged with robbery, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000 and failure to comply with a probation order. He was scheduled to appear in court in Toronto on Thursday.

Miller said the carjacking itself was not as stressful as losing his family’s dog.

For now, the plan for Roxy is “lots of sleep, lots of love, some treats and maybe a little special dog bone, and then a walk here and there. Back to normal life.”

As for the SUV, it’s in the impound lot and will be checked out by the insurance company, he said.