A friend has done a really great thing and I wanted to pass it along:

“Frank Compton is an 80-year old widower living with his dog, Sandy, in Rancho Calaveras, California. He and his dog have lived alone since Frank’s wife died four years ago. On July 20th, Sandy vanished. When the dog didn’t return by morning, Frank went around town hanging up fliers asking for help finding his companion. Later that afternoon, he got a call, but it wasn’t from a friendly citizen trying to help.

Instead, the caller claimed to have his dog, but demanded $10,000 for Sandy’s safe return. The caller told him that if he didn’t pay up, his dog was a goner. Frank couldn’t let anything happen to his beloved pet, so he agreed to meet the caller with the money. Frank gathered up the $10,000, which represented about half of his life-savings, and met the “dognapper” at the agreed location. When he arrived, the thug pulled a knife and demanded the money. Frank was told that his dog was just up the road waiting for him, so he gave the assailant the money and went in search of his Sandy. Sandy, unfortunately, was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. Later that day, Sandy returned. Frank heard a door slam outside his house and a minute later, he heard Sandy’s familiar bark in the back yard. Some anonymous stranger had returned his dog. He doesn’t believe that the “dognapper” ever actually had Sandy.

So, that’s why FrankLovesSandy.com is here. We want to help Frank Compton to recover his life savings. All the profits from the sale of the merchandise in the store go to the Frank Compton Fund or you can donate directly.” For more info, including press clippings, the store link, etc., visit the website.