Photo: The Dogist

Photo taken of a dog looking like Ruger and three suspect men in Montreal, published on "The Dogist" Facebook page Aug. 16.

A Naramata family hasn’t given up on getting their stolen dog back; believed to be taken to Montreal by migrant farm workers.

Both the Penticton RCMP and Montreal police have made contact with a man they believe to be in possession of a Siberian husky stolen from Naramata in August, but are not receiving any cooperation.

Fiona Logie was walking her dogs, Ruger and Koda, off-leash in the mountains above the village last summer when they vanished.

After a search and phone calls to local vets, the family learned Koda was dropped off at the pound by a group of transient farm workers. Ruger remained missing.

Around the same time, three men were caught on surveillance camera trespassing, appearing to try to steal another dog Naramata.

Less than two weeks later, Ruger was photographed by popular canine Instagram photographer, the Dogist, in Montreal. In the background of the photo, were men who looked similar to the three caught on surveillance.

“It’s been very frustrating, up until a couple days ago there was really no progress,” Logie said Thursday.

Refusing to give up, Logie said she started contacting media in Quebec last week, which appears to have moved the police investigation forward.

“I get it, from their point, it’s just a dog right, but to us, he’s our family,” she said.

RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk says they are fairly certain the dog photographed in Montreal is indeed Ruger. They have also identified the man they believe has the dog.

“They’ve (Montreal police) made efforts, but they are not getting anywhere with the individual with... just the fact that we’ve got an open investigation,” he said.

Moskaluk said they are considering forwarding information to the Crown to see if they have enough for a possession of stolen property charge.

He admits it’s doubtful the arrest warrant would be Canada-wide, hopes it doesn’t have to go that far.

“The bottom line is, is the hoped resolution is that the Naramata family get their animal back,” Moskaluk said. “Return the dog.”

“We can understand her drive to get her dog back,” he added.

While the situation has been difficult, Logie says she has been touched by the support of people looking to help her in both the Okanagan and Quebec.

“The response has been unbelievable,” she said. “My Facebook messages are full of encouragement every day.”

Photo: Contributed

Surveillance footage of three men trespassing with a leash in hand in Naramata in August