Deployed soldier desperately trying to get back his beloved dog Baxter after his girlfriend SOLD him on Craigslist... and now the new owners won't return him

  • Robert Gabbert raised his Shiba Inu Baxter from a puppy and left him with his girlfriend when he went to Afghanistan
  • The family that bought Baxter said their children have become too attached to him after a month of their home
  • Supporters are now raising money to help get Baxter back

By Michael Zennie

Published: 07:52 EST, 18 June 2014 | Updated: 09:09 EST, 18 June 2014

A Colorado soldier deployed to Afghanistan is fighting to get his beloved dog Baxter back after his malicious girlfriend sold him on Craigslist so she wouldn't have to take care of him.

To make matters worse, Robert Gabbert and his supporters found the family who bought the Shiba Inu - but they are refusing to return him, saying their children have become too attached to the dog in the month he's been in their care.

Much heartbreak has been caused and the deployed soldier is so sad to have lost his dog, his family say.

Such heartache: Robert Gabbert was devastated when he learned that his girlfriend had sold his dog Baxter after he went to Afghanistan

Such heartache: Robert Gabbert was devastated when he learned that his girlfriend had sold his dog Baxter after he went to Afghanistan

Wow
Such patriotism

So loving: Gabbert is trying to convince the family that have Baxter to return him. But they have refused, saying their kids are too attached

'They keep saying they have children that are attached. Well my child is attached to the dog. Just because he's older doesn't mean he's not my child,' Mr Gabbert's mother Karen Fraley told KOAA-TV.

Mr Gabbert raised Baxter from a puppy and his Facebook page is filled with photos of him lovingly embracing his dog and taking him on adventures outside Fort Carson, Colorado, where Mr Gabbert is stationed.

 

More...

Before he left, Mr Gabbert posted a photo collage of him and Baxter together. 'Thinking of turning this into a blanket,' he wrote.

He left Baxter in the care of his girlfriend, his family says, thinking he would be safe until he got back from Afghanistan.

Very dangerous: Mr Gabbert has bound himself having to worry about his beloved pet while deployed in Afghanistan

Very dangerous: Mr Gabbert has bound himself having to worry about his beloved pet while deployed in Afghanistan

Much devotion: Mr Gabbert said he wanted to make this photo collage into a blanket and take it with him to Afghanistan so he could remember his dog

Much devotion: Mr Gabbert said he wanted to make this photo collage into a blanket and take it with him to Afghanistan so he could remember his dog

However, the girlfriend sold Baxter on Facebook to a family who was looking for a pet for their small children.

Mr Gabbert's supporters have set up a fundraising page and began a campaign to convince the family to return Baxter.

KOAA-TV reports that they are even considering getting a lawyer to help with the handover.

'Now that they know about it, they can do the right thing,' supporter Nancy Wallace told KOAA.

'They can teach their children, "Yeah this is very difficult, but we do the right thing."'

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what a nasty piece she really is . not her dog to sell . lawyers should start with her first , then the people with the stolen dog to be returned ! Good luck mr Gabbert .

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wow that girlfriend is a really mean spirited person... and to the people with the dog, for gods sake do the right thing here.

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I see a lawsuit coming. The girlfriend has no right to sell his dog. She was just a caretaker. Her new owner should have given the dog back. It would serve a great lesson to the children.

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What a horrible thing to do. Surely an ex-girlfriend now. The new owners should give the dog back, it wasn't hers to sell.

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He should sell that Girl Friend creature for this vile act!

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They should give the dog back. I'm sure their children are attached but who knows what this young soldier experienced, a beloved pet can help heal emotional wounds. The bad guys here aren't the parents it's the girlfriend. An unfortunately this is a tough lesson for their kids to learn. Although I gotta say, don't scare the lot dog holding it up like that on the rock.

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to be quite honest, i find the act of selling AND purchasing dogs, and other living creatures via craigslist to be despicable. animal shelters, and in this particular case, breed specific rescues are far superior at re-homing a pet, and have a better support system for the animal should a dispute arise. i hope the soldier gets baxter back.

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The ex girlfriend is a creep. This should be a good teaching moment for the parents that bought the dog. Explain the situation to the kids and do the right thing and give the dog back. Sure they will be upset for a while but doing the right thing is sometimes hard.

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Bah, offer them a refund and if they refuse, charge them with possession of stolen property and a demand for its return. The dog was entrusted to the girlfriend for care, not sale. Easy win, no need for a fundraiser and cake sale....

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Give the man his dog back. It's the least you could do after his time serving his country. The children may be attached, but their parents could use this to teach them to do the right thing. If they let the kids keep someone else's dog, they'll just learn that it's more important to get what you want, no matter who else it affects.

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