Gold Coast family reunited with missing pet dog Haku the corgi
A bizarre incident over a missing corgi has ended after the beloved animal was returned home.
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FAMILY pet corgi Haku has finally been returned to her tearful owner after allegedly being held by pet-sitters for months.
Carmen Pham said her heart was “so full” on Tuesday afternoon when she collected her missing dog from the Surfers Paradise police station.
Haku had been left in the care of family friends while on a holiday, but after she got home and tried to collect Haku, the animal had gone missing.
Mrs Pham called on help from police and Gold Coast pet investigator Kirilly Cull.
“The story had been in the media over the weekend and this afternoon I got a call from the police station,” Mrs Pham said.
“They said guess who is here waiting for you. I started to cry.”
Mrs Pham said she had rushed out to buy Haku’s favourite treats, which included liver and a few toys.
“I wanted to spoil her,” Mrs Pham said.
“I got there and she was so chill, a little overweight but so chill.”
Mrs Pham said at this stage she was not looking to press any charges and wanted to ensure the dog was healthy.
“This was never about revenge. This was about getting Haku home to where she belongs.”
Mrs Pham said she was excited to surprise her daughter with Haku’s return.
“I am really thankful to everyone who shared my story and helped me get my search out. I had been fighting for months and now Haku is home.”
HOW THE SAGA BEGAN:
POLICE were investigating a Gold Coast family’s complaint about a bizarre incident with an acquaintance entrusted with their corgi – but refusing to return it.
But the acquaintance Ian Porter claims in purported email correspondence to the owner he was led to believe he was taking permanent ownership of beloved $2400 corgi Haku.
Haku’s Labrador-based owner Carmen Pham initially laid a complaint with police on July 17 and said she approached police again on Sunday in a bid to get her family pet returned.
Mrs Pham claims Haku was left in the care of Mr Porter and his now-estranged wife while her family was holidaying in Vietnam in March.
She believes Mr Porter took a liking to Haku and alleged he was now refusing to return the four-year-old purebred.
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“In March we decided to go to Vietnam to visit my parents so they could meet my daughter before all the lockdowns came into place,” Mrs Pham said.
“We left Haku with this couple we were close to, because they said they would look after her.”
After returning, Mrs Pham said the dog sitters asked to keep Haku another week because they were lonely during COVID-19 restrictions.
“I love Haku but I was also happy to let them keep her company for a little while longer, because we were in lockdown. They were an old couple, I thought I would be kind.”
However the pattern continued into July with Mr Porter allegedly begging to keep the dog for “one more week” every time Mrs Pham asked for her back, she claims.
“It broke my heart, we have had Haku since she was a puppy, she is a big part of our family,” she said.
Mrs Pham said she had even offered to buy Mr Porter another dog.
“He says he just wants Haku,” she said. “They are trying whatever they can to keep her, but she is my dog, we raised her as a baby. It wasn’t supposed to happen, we trusted them.”
Mr Porter was repeatedly contacted for comment, but calls to his mobile went to voicemail and he did not respond.
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“Police have told us they can’t get into the house but have spoken to him about it. I am just desperate and want Haku home,” she said.
Mrs Pham forwarded emails in which Mr Porter claimed he was led to believe “we could take Haku permanently”.
In the emails, he said the Pham family was “well aware how much Haku and I have grown together and the love and affection Haku and I enjoy”.
“The best option for Haku is me to take ownership and if it is about the $$$, I will pay you the $2400 you paid,” he wrote.
The man claimed Haku had been “locked inside a garage at times” due to Mrs Pham and her husband’s employment demands.
However, Mrs Pham described the dog as a much-loved family member.
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She produced a document from “the part-owner of Tallia Corgi Kennels” in northern NSW, showing Mrs Pham and her family bought a Pembroke corgi female registered as Tallia Haku Pham on September 7, 2016.
On Sunday, Mrs Pham said Mr Porterhad texted her asking her not to talk to the media.
“I said ‘Please just drop Haku into the vet or pound – but he won’t’,” she said.
“We’re exhausted. It’s crushing, it’s been so long. It just breaks my heart.”
Queensland Police said the matter was ongoing.
Originally published as Gold Coast family reunited with missing pet dog Haku the corgi