A pet-lover in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, hopes police can help him find his kidnapped 40,000-yuan (US$5,856) Rottweiler.

The man and his pet went for a walk on Tuesday when a man jumped out of a passing van and grabbed the dog. The owner, Xie Wang, has distributed posters and photos of the 2-year-old male dog without luck.

Xie is offering a 5,000 yuan reward for tips that help him find the dog. Xie's dog, named Ji Zai, was snatched after the van pulled up next to them on the sidewalk.

Xie said he was asked by a telephone caller to sell the dog for 20,000 yuan but he had refused. He suspected someone really wanted the dog.

(China Daily April 13, 2009)