Slog
News & ArtsFriday, July 8, 2011
News Hey, Give Me Back My Fucking Dog
Posted by Megan Seling on Fri, Jul 8, 2011 at 12:39 PM
"I called her twice, I e-mailed her twice," Weipert said when reached by phone. "I said 'thank you for finding my dog' and that I've got a cash reward for her."
It was Tuesday night, July 5th, that Weipert got the good news: Several people saw a dog that looked exactly like Benny with local pop performer Lisa Dank at a party. According to Weipert, who had friends at that party, Dank said that she found the dog earlier that day. (I tried to reach Dank for confirmation but she hasn't returned my calls.)
Also on Tuesday, earlier in the day, Jennifer Petersen of Sportn' Life Records saw Dank walking downtown with the Benny look-alike.
"She said she found him outside the Hurricane at 4 am and it was meant to be," says Petersen. "I don't believe she knew at the time that Benny's owner was looking for him. Honestly, you could tell by the look of him that he was owned by someone who cares. Regardless she named him 'Musket' and went about her way."
"On Thursday," Petersen continues, "I found out through a friend and co-worker at KEXP that the dog's owner was frantic and looking for him and that Lisa had basically refused to give the dog back. Sending texts saying she isn't returning the dog. Stating it was kismet. I decided to help Mel and blast her first personally to see if she responded, which she didn't, so I took to Facebook."
It appears to Weipert, and those who have contacted Dank, that Dank is unwilling to give the dog up, or even ensure it isn't the same pet Weipert has lovingly raised for the last two-and-a-half years. Weipert hasn't been able to verify in person that the dog is his because, he says, Dank hasn't responded to phone calls, emails, Facebook messages, or Twitter messages left for her over the last four days. In fact, Weipert says she's deleted any Benny-related messages Weipert and his friends have posted on her Facebook wall. (Again, I tried to contact Dank for her side of the story but she hasn't returned calls or emails from me for comment.)
After he didn't hear back from Dank, he also called the police.
"They called the number I had for her and she didn’t answer," he says. "They reported to me that they left a message saying you need to get the dog back to the rightful owner or face criminal charges."
That was at about 6:00 p.m. last night. Weipert says there's still no word from Dank.
Weipert is glad the dog is safe, but he wants Benny back. "I told her, I can see why you fell in love with him, but I’ve got to have my doggy back. I’m going crazy."
UPDATE: Lisa Dank has responded.
UPDATE #2: Benny the dog was returned Friday evening.
This post has been updated since its original publication.
4
I just checked her facebook and she posted a status yesterday that says "Oh shit! No phone till Saturday! You know where to find me...at The Comet iin a sea of punk rockers covered in glitter. Friday....$9, $8 with canned food donation."
6
"NEVER QUESTION THE POWER AND DETERMINATION OF A YOUNG GIRLS HEART. NEVER."
- http://twitter.com/lisadank
- http://twitter.com/lisadank
8
@4 And yet minus her phone she retained the capacity to delete postings from her fb page. How mysterious.
9
Only problem is that the Stranger has a huge crush on Lisa Dank, despite her hilarious lack of talent. If you want to be popular in Seattle, simply shameless pander to the gay community. Strange, how while our gay brethren have obviously superior aesthetic taste to their straight brothers, they have horrible aural taste.
Watch your back at work Megan...
Watch your back at work Megan...
10
1) Crazy bitch, give the dog back! Christ!
2) LESSON: KEEP YOUR FUCKING DOGS INSIDE ON 4th of JULY! If you don't, you are a SHITTY DOG OWNER, and he might just be better of with the psycho dog-napper.
2) LESSON: KEEP YOUR FUCKING DOGS INSIDE ON 4th of JULY! If you don't, you are a SHITTY DOG OWNER, and he might just be better of with the psycho dog-napper.
15
@10 and @11 The owner says Benny was hiding in the basement for most of the night, but he got out through a doggy door. He also jumped a fence, which the owner believed he wouldn't have ever been able to jump. I don't think it was negligence on the owner's part.
17
Damn, this is terrible. I hope Benny gets back to his rightful owner ASAP, and if Miss Dank wants to make sure that her 'found' dog really IS Benny, all she has to do is meet with Mr Weipert and watch the dog's reaction. It should be pretty obvious whether the dog is Benny or not.
@ 8 - Um, maybe she has a computer?
@ 8 - Um, maybe she has a computer?
18
The irritating contents of her Twitter leaves me feeling like she could totally steal a dog from somebody. Also, her music is boring. I'd rather listen to Kesha. At least her lyrics are hilariously terrible.
21
wow, she's a crazy bitch AND she can't sing or write an interesting song to save her life. get this woman a reality tv show!
22
I'd heard the name before, but until today I had no idea who this person was. Now that I have done a little google searching, I can't figure out what is more baffling: that she stole someone's dog, or that people pay money to listen to that shit.
23
This is the kind of public shaming I was hoping Lindy West's Facebook slut incident would turn into.
24
@17 Um yeah I assumed that the phone post was a cover for why she's not taking any calls. Excuse my fail.
26
*ahem*
super loving caring dog owners recognize that the 4th in Wallingford is a fucking scary-ass time for any animal and so make sure to keep them *inside* and closed off so they can't run away and get fireworks shoved up their ass and/or get stolen by crazy local pseudo pop singers...
just sayin...
super loving caring dog owners recognize that the 4th in Wallingford is a fucking scary-ass time for any animal and so make sure to keep them *inside* and closed off so they can't run away and get fireworks shoved up their ass and/or get stolen by crazy local pseudo pop singers...
just sayin...
28
What a cunt! At least check with this poor man in person to see if it is his dog. I vote for some throwing of rotten tomatos at Comet tonight. They go great with glitter.
29
i hate the term 'crazy bitch' because it is the #1 insult used towards all women (who are often times neither crazy nor a "bitch"), ... but this story is RIDIC.
30
Ah yes... Lisa "I broke your wireless mic as 'part of my show' and refuse to pay for it because I'm an 'artist'" Dank.
33
@ 29, in some respects I agree. However, not in this case. If it were a guy doing the same thing he'd be a crazy bastard. It's a woman so, to use the gender appropriate insult, bitch. Also, citing "kismet" and "fate" and "meant to be" while avoiding the owner, his friends, and the cops AND deleting evidence that she's doing something illegal, cruel and underhanded = crazy. Finding someone's lost dog is not fate or kismet or meant to be even if you believe in those things. So, nope, in this case the woman's def. a crazy bitch.
34
so Slog is pro-public shaming when it comes to a spat between 2 people over a dog.
But vehemently anti-shaming when it comes to fatness, being non-monogamous, etc etc
LOL WUT
But vehemently anti-shaming when it comes to fatness, being non-monogamous, etc etc
LOL WUT
35
33: no, he would be referred to as an asshole or a jerk, not a crazy bastard...come on let's be real.
Also, is it really illegal to keep a found animal? Honest question
Also, is it really illegal to keep a found animal? Honest question
36
@34: which is perfectly consistent with Slog's view that it's worse to steal a dog than to be fat or non-monogamous
LOL WUT
LOL WUT
37
@35 Many cities require anyone who finds a loose domestic animal to report it to animal control. Since the police are involved, I'd assume Seattle is one of those cities. Those who are found to have taken a "stray" and kept it from its rightful owner may be fined or face jail time.
38
Wait a minute - are you telling me this little toy dog, which can't weigh more than 5 pounds - trekked it from Wallingford to the Hurricane Cafe in South Lake Union? During the madness of the 4th on Lake Union?
Benny wanted the fuck out.
Benny wanted the fuck out.
40
@35 The police are threatening criminal charges if she doesn't give the dog back, so at least in this case, no.
41
@35 Yes it is really illegal to keep a found animal. Animals are property legally and just because someone misplaced his property doesn't mean it belongs to anyone who finds it. "Finders keepers" only works for abandoned property.
42
Do none of you own dogs? You cannot keep them inside the entire 4th, they have to pee at some point. And lovely people set off fireworks for days leading up to the 4th. Short of Benadryling your dog for a week, you cannot completely ensure their safety. Sadly many pets go missing this time of year. But someone refusing to meet up with a frantic owner even to let them see if it's their lost pet is reprehensible.
43
I had a friend who was stalked by a woman because God told her they were meant to be together. Ms. Dank is using the same non-logic when she says it was 'kismet' and 'meant to be' that she found the dog. She's hiding behind cosmic bullshit to rationalize doing something horribly wrong.
44
Megan, please re-post with a poll re: "horribleness" vs "meant to be"
or Brand New Column: "Lisa Dank, Dog-snatching Skank"
or Brand New Column: "Lisa Dank, Dog-snatching Skank"
49
Damn, that show tonight is going to be EPIC. Hope it's picketed/flash-mobbed, and people throw doggy treats at the stage.
50
I think I held this dog at a party I recently was at, while she was getting a drink. Had I known any of this at the time, I would have left immediately with it and returned it to the owner. It was a little pup just like this one, shaking and didn't really want to be left alone at all. I don't know who Lisa Dank is, but the girl with him had me hold him and said she'd found him and that he was just adorable (she seemed to be pretty stoned or whatever). Can't the police just go to her house?
53
@29 Sometimes ya just gotta call a shovel a shovel. W/ no insult to all the rakes that were unjustly accused of being a shovel.
55
From what I hear, the dog was found, not stolen. Found. At 4:30 am. In the middle of a street outside Gasworks. With no collar, tags, or even a microchip. If you're going to leave your dog alone long enough for it to escape at least make it easy to identify. Or how about you be more responsible and don't just leave your dog in a basement with a doggy door. If Lisa Dank's responsible enough to have the dog for four days and not lose it you should be able to take care of it too.
56
Dank, if you're reading this, if you throw that collarless fox terrier down one stage tonight and break it .. Then you buy it.
If it still works, you should prolly just give it back...
If it still works, you should prolly just give it back...
57
yeah, @39, 54. I easily may have gone without hearing Dank's terrible music were it not for this story. but when is bad publicity really just bad publicity? She has instantly cemented herself a spot near the bottom of my list.
59
@55 Finding a domestic animal and not contacting animal control and making an effort to let the authorities know about the animal--in fact, avoiding phone calls from the authorities--is illegal. The fact that she "found" it rather than breaking into the guy's basement doesn't change the fact that she's breaking the law.
61
RFID Tags, its the only way. You spend that much on a dog, license and neutering, RFID might be an extra 50$ added onto that. Otherwise you risk stealing a dog that might not actually belong to you.
NOTE: What kind of moron leaves their dog in the backyard on the 4th of July? Thats just asking for the dog to freak out and make a run for it.
NOTE: What kind of moron leaves their dog in the backyard on the 4th of July? Thats just asking for the dog to freak out and make a run for it.
65
IF ANYONE DOES SHOW UP TO THE COMET TO THROW DOG SHIT IN THIS RETARDS FACE. DO NOT PAY THE COVER. JUST WAIT UNTIL SHES OUTSIDE.
67
what I find fucked up is how The Stranger *never* finished the Bumbershoot story- lisa dank DID get paid even though she broke one reel's microphone. on top of that, she's refused to honor contracts with other supporting performers from that very same event (!!)
this girl's overall behavior/ lack of respect is apparent... apparently, that's what gets you on the cover of the stranger- and half-told/ one-sided stories
this girl's overall behavior/ lack of respect is apparent... apparently, that's what gets you on the cover of the stranger- and half-told/ one-sided stories
68
@55- I've found dogs twice on the 4th, one was a greyhound that ran into my basement through an open door with no identification, one was wandering down the street scared and alone. I wouldn't have thought for a second I could keep them. I have some friends who's dog has escaped twice on the 4th too. Some dogs, like mine, hide under the bed during the fireworks noise. Others, do anything they can to escape from your house. Sure, the dog owner should have had ID on the dog and locked the doggy door, but two poor decisions in no way makes it OK for whoever found the runaway dog to keep it. If you choose to rescue a lost animal, you're logically, ethically and legally responsible for trying to get that animal back to it's owner. Trying to justify keeping it when the animal's owner has contacted you is criminal behavior, along with being completely unethical and downright rotten.
70
its too bad its a fox terrier and not a mean ugly dog with a big wanger. otherwise i would never have read this story. at least not in the same context.
71
Good thing it's not a Pit Bull, the Stranger would be calling for it to be put down before it tries to kill someone...
72
@68 Thank you. Any discussion about this is irrelevant. You can't just take a family member even if someone fucks up.
73
For all of you dissing the dog owner - remember, stuff happens even to the most diligent owner. There was the time my dog took off through a never-used side gate that had blown open during a windstorm, the time she shot off after a bath (w/ no collar on, of course), and on...too many to count in 13 years, and I've been lucky and grateful to get her back each time. I've also returned the favor as much as possible. It's easy to judge, but a scared dog is capable of incredibly radical and irrational behavior, and can pull of some crazy stunts. All they know is that they're scared, and they just want the bad noises to stop - some hide from it, some try to run away from it.
This poor scared dog needs to go back to its real home now.
This poor scared dog needs to go back to its real home now.
76
Kinison, learn to read, will ya?
@10 and @11 The owner says Benny was hiding in the basement for most of the night, but he got out through a doggy door. He also jumped a fence, which the owner believed he wouldn't have ever been able to jump. I don't think it was negligence on the owner's part.
Posted by Megan Seling on July 8, 2011 at 1:05 PM
77
@55 Wrong. Once the next morning rolls around and the "found" dog hasn't been turned over to a shelter, and repeated requests by the owner to see if the dog is theirs have been ignored, it becomes stolen.
This isn't Puerto Rico, there aren't random strays running around Wallingford that need to be saved, when you find a loose dog in Seattle someone is usually looking for it and not responding to the owner's requests makes you a thief, and an asshole.
This isn't Puerto Rico, there aren't random strays running around Wallingford that need to be saved, when you find a loose dog in Seattle someone is usually looking for it and not responding to the owner's requests makes you a thief, and an asshole.
78
WHO THE FUCK DOES THAT?
It's crazy how often people keep dogs they know belong to others. A friend of mine recently had a taken stolen from her boutique while her back was turned, another someone grabbed as it was running off lease in a crowded park (it's normal for little dogs at said park to scurry about), another taken while tied up outside a store; in all cases the dog thief knew the dog belonged to someone and refused to return it. Again—tha fuck does that?!
It's crazy how often people keep dogs they know belong to others. A friend of mine recently had a taken stolen from her boutique while her back was turned, another someone grabbed as it was running off lease in a crowded park (it's normal for little dogs at said park to scurry about), another taken while tied up outside a store; in all cases the dog thief knew the dog belonged to someone and refused to return it. Again—tha fuck does that?!
79
@54 Probably. And it worked, at least so far as it caused me to listen to 30 seconds of her schlock on YouTube.
But, I mean, Christ on a cracker. You have to be a pretty horrible person, possess absolutely no sense of self-awareness, and/or be inexcusably stupid, to think that stealing someone's family pet is an acceptable way to draw attention to your band.
But, I mean, Christ on a cracker. You have to be a pretty horrible person, possess absolutely no sense of self-awareness, and/or be inexcusably stupid, to think that stealing someone's family pet is an acceptable way to draw attention to your band.
80
If true, this is a horrible story. But has anyone else noticed that the victim runs a marketing/PR agency? Hmmm ....
81
I say we finish this dispute with the wisdom of Solomon. Let Lisa Dank cut it and Weipert can pick which half he wants.
82
this is totally a publicity stunt. No way do the cops call and leave a message. What a bunch of bullshit.
84
I think she should give the dog b/c prolonged exposure to her music could easily be considered animal abuse. *yuck*
85
No tags? No chip? Forgot to lock the doggie door? Won't give the dog back even after the police call?
The dumb and the crazy are very strong with these two women.
The dumb and the crazy are very strong with these two women.
86
It's probably "dank" in her vagina:
dank (dngk)
adj. dank·er, dank·est
Disagreeably damp or humid.
(esp of cellars, caves, etc.) unpleasantly damp and chilly
[probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish dank marshy spot]
dank (dngk)
adj. dank·er, dank·est
Disagreeably damp or humid.
(esp of cellars, caves, etc.) unpleasantly damp and chilly
[probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish dank marshy spot]
87
Utterly ridonk. I met the owner when he was putting up "help me find Benny" flyers on the 4th; I wish there was some way I could help reunite Benny with him.
Lisa Dank, if you're reading this, please return Benny to his home. And remember that whatever you think "kismet" "meant" to have happen, the SPD ain't gonna agree with you.
Lisa Dank, if you're reading this, please return Benny to his home. And remember that whatever you think "kismet" "meant" to have happen, the SPD ain't gonna agree with you.
91
Dunno her, but we have two dozen common friends on Facebook, all of whom got asked to tell her to give the dog back! Someone took my dog on July 5, I'd be all over them by July 9.
93
To the person who seems to suggest that the dog's owner is doing this as a PR stunt might want to consider the consequences of making false police reports and false statements. Hmmmm, seems unlikely that he'd put his business in jeopardy.
94
@93 I assumed that commenter meant that the owner and Lisa Dank might be conspiring to get her some publicity. I'm guessing that's not the case. I'm pretty sure all this woman gets is negative publicity. She probably does not want more.
95
I found a dog loose in Wallingford on the 4th with a pet license tag but no address or phone number. I immediately gave it food and water, put it in a crate so it couldn't run away or get in a fight with my dog, and put up a sign on the street that said "FOUND DOG" with a photo. When nobody came by, the next morning, I put up a post on Craigslist, then drove over to Seattle Humane. They put me in touch with the owner and I took it back home (by 9:45 AM on the 5th.)
DANK! Are you getting this down?
DANK! Are you getting this down?
96
@75, 76, RE: The owner says Benny was hiding in the basement for most of the night, but he got out through a doggy door.
Where in the article does it mention this nugget of information?
Where in the article does it mention this nugget of information?
97
Wow, thank you everyone for taking time out of your busy lives to comment on my situation. I take all of this to heart.
Now make sure to come to the Comet Tavern tonight and request my music on C89.5.
Thanks guys,
Love,
Lisa Dank
Now make sure to come to the Comet Tavern tonight and request my music on C89.5.
Thanks guys,
Love,
Lisa Dank
98
@97 - Lisa Dank has a profile here, so I doubt you're her. Or did you just lose your login information? Because I found some login information the other day. It was meant to be.
99
Jesus Christ people make mistakes like not knowing the dog was going to bolt through a dog door and then hop a high ass fence. That doesn't have shit to do with this chick being a fucking dog thief. Its not your dog, it will never be your dog. I'm definitley a little sore on this subject after our Louis incident. The good news is the SPD will pursue it as a property theft crime and if the value is high enough of the property it could result in a felony charge.
100
Dear Lisa,
Please let Mel at least verify if this is his beloved Benny or not. Take it from (Lost Dog) Louis' owner, it is the most excruciating experience losing your dog. Even if it's not Benny, Mel has to follow up on any lead. Please be compassionate and contact him.
Most sincerely,
Kendall
Please let Mel at least verify if this is his beloved Benny or not. Take it from (Lost Dog) Louis' owner, it is the most excruciating experience losing your dog. Even if it's not Benny, Mel has to follow up on any lead. Please be compassionate and contact him.
Most sincerely,
Kendall
101
@ 96, it was fucking mentioned in comment # 15. READ EVERY COMMENT BEFORE YOU POST, dingleberry.
102
I found Lisa dank on the street at 4:30am and she had no tags or chip so I kept her in my basement and made her record some music but it stunk so I let her go. Sorry she got out!
104
@43: I had the same thing happen to me. A guy, though. I didn't think he knew where I lived until he was sitting on my neighbour's porch on my birthday, taking notes about everyone who came and left.
No doing crazy/creepy/selfish things because some mystical spirit tells you so, people! It's just not OK.
No doing crazy/creepy/selfish things because some mystical spirit tells you so, people! It's just not OK.
108
This is Mel. Benny is my dog and he's back. Huge relief.. Nightmare. Meeting with Lisa was quick. She was very sweet. Young and very pretty too. She was crying and didn't say much. I thanked her for taking care of Benny. I guess he could have got run over when he ran away. Gave her the name of the breeder to get a toy fox terrior of her own. I told her to do a great
show tonight and gave her a kiss. I bet she's a good entertainer. Probably on at the Comet right now. Everybody learned sometjhing, I think. I'm gettin the dog chipped.
I'm grateful for all the response. Dogs are something.... the Keepers of the Soul, I hear.
show tonight and gave her a kiss. I bet she's a good entertainer. Probably on at the Comet right now. Everybody learned sometjhing, I think. I'm gettin the dog chipped.
I'm grateful for all the response. Dogs are something.... the Keepers of the Soul, I hear.
109
Mel, I'm afraid you've given her far too much credit. She's been posting on her twitter about how she returned the dog to the pervert moron owner. So much for your nice gesture with the kiss on the cheek. Bitch really IS that full of herself.
112
#108 Shouldn't she turn to a rescue shelter first? 1) there are real dogs in need. 2) Clearly she likes to "rescue".
113
I think what Mr. Mel is trying to say is that "All's well that ends well." Benny is home & that's what is really important.
If anyone out there wants to continue to gnaw these old bones, go ahead, but you're not doing anyone any good.
If anyone out there wants to continue to gnaw these old bones, go ahead, but you're not doing anyone any good.
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