Created: 12/7/2009 11:08:20 PM 
Walkertown, NC -- A Forsyth County woman is begging for her dog to be returned, after it ran away and was sold.
Ann Slater's 10 month-old toy poodle, Spike, was more than just her family's pet. He also served as a therapy dog for more than 100 residents at the nursing home where Slater works. Many elderly residents at Lutheran Home Nursing Home in Winston-Salem bonded with Spike by petting him and having him sit in their laps.
"He is the joy of our life," said Slater. Lutheran Home Administrator Cissy McCoy said, "With a dog, they're never judged, the dog always loves them no matter what, so it just made them feel special to have him come visit every day." Slater said Spike ran away from her Walkertown house when she wasn't home Friday. He ran across the street to Doug Whalen's house. Whalen said he didn't recognize the dog and wasn't able to keep it in his home, but knew someone would come looking for it. A woman visiting his neighbor offered to take the dog in the mean time, but eventually passed him along to another woman, who authorities said sold Spike at Cook's Flea Market in Winston-Salem Saturday. "All I was trying to do was do the right thing and it backfired tremendously on me and made me look like a fool," said Whalen. Those who love Spike said he's irreplaceable. "The residents are really going to miss Spike and I hope wherever he's at, somebody will realize that he had a higher purpose and let him come back to us," said McCoy. Slater said, "We miss Spike, my residents miss Spike, we just want Spike to come home." The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office took a report about the incidient, but technically no laws were broken, so there isn't much law enforcement can do. Slater is hoping someone recognizes Spike's picture and comes forward with information about where he ended up. He was wearing a black collar with no ID tag, and a black bandana.
