A woman from Manhattan is on a quest to find her missing dog. In an unusual attempt, she has used a photo of her Shar-Pei on a cannabis bag. Unfortunately, this led to the accidental igniting of a discarded cigarette, setting off a wave of prank calls.
Gabriella Hussner estimates that she’s received around 50 prank calls since the bag went public last week, mostly from odd callers pretending to bark at her.
“It’s tough. I’m already feeling low. I can’t figure out what they’re trying to communicate,” the distressed dog owner told the Post.
A marijuana bag featuring her dog, Appa, became available over the weekend, just a week after the incident when her five-year-old dog broke out of her boyfriend’s neighbor’s yard. Fireworks startled the dog, causing him to jump through a hole in the fence.
This isn’t the first time Appa has made an escape, but on previous occasions, he stayed close enough for Mr. Fastner to find him within half an hour.
“I’ve heard stories about dog thefts happening both before and after the pandemic, so I’m concerned someone might have taken him,” expressed Zipper, a 27-year-old potter living in the financial district.
The idea to put Appa’s face on the cannabis bag came from Mr. Fastner’s boyfriend, who suggested a friend help spread the word by creating a poster to hang at home.
The artist, going by the name Yo Chill, had nearly 13,000 followers on social media and decided to think outside the box.
“I like doing things my own way. I figured a poster could reach more eyes than just a regular social media post. It’s wild to think he got lost in the snow,” Yo Chill mentioned.
He clarified that there were no illegal items in the bag and insisted it was merely a publicity stunt aimed at finding Appa.
“It’s definitely implied, but there’s no footage of me opening it to show what’s inside. Technically, the law requires a warrant to search personal property. So, it’s really up to people’s imagination,” he explained, hesitating when asked about his profession, saying, “I don’t label myself… I just create.”
Zipper was taken aback by the approach at first but later saw the value in using it to generate more awareness for her lost dog, despite the annoying calls.
“Some people will call and say they’ve found my dog… and ask me to confirm his name. When I say ‘Appa,’ they just start barking. It’s surreal,” Mr. Fastner added.
“It’s exhausting and frustrating. Yet, I really just want as many eyes on him as possible around here. I’ll take any help I can get.”
Mr. Fastner has consulted two dog psychics in his effort to locate Appa, suspecting that the dog may have settled in Corona Park in Flushing Meadows.
Appa, named after the flying bison from “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” holds significant meaning for Zipper, who credits him with supporting her through the loss of her mother and a tough breakup.
“He represents my family,” she said, with a hint of sadness. “He’s the one I feel closest to, which is tough… He’s been my companion through so much.”
