Carmel on the Case: Dog Gone

WSVN -- Dan Dawson is holding Diesel in this photograph. He loves the dog he rescued as a puppy, but Diesel became aggressive.

Dan Dawson: "There was an altercation with my son at the gate. He got bit and we had to get rid of him. It was very tough. He was never anything but perfect for me, but I have to respect my family. Even though he was like my kid, I had to get him a new home."

Dan posted a desperate message on Craigslist warning time was running out for Diesel.

Linda Gall: "I saw an ad on Craigslist."

Linda Gall of Fort Lauderdale responded to the ad, and told Dan to call John Klein of Pompano Beach. Dan says Klein told him he fosters dogs, and agreed to keep Diesel for a short time until Dan could find him a forever home. But when Dan called to say he had found a good home for Diesel, Klein told him he gave the dog away.

Dan Dawson: "At that point everything changed, and he went from nice guy to, 'Sir, you're just going to have to let go. When you dropped the dog off here, he was mine.'"

Dan was heartbroken not knowing what happened to his dog.

Dan Dawson: "I said, 'Please give me the guy's number so I can tell him what Diesel likes, doesn't like, what to be concerned with. If there's action, how to treat him.'"

But Klein says he doesn't have the Miami man's phone number.

John Klein: I clear my phone automatically on a daily basis."

Klein admitted to me he doesn't do background checks, so he has no information on the man from Miami who took Diesel.

John Klein: "The individual wound up leaving with the animal, gave me $50 for food, not the dog. Be very clear on that. There's really nothing more to say."

So no one knows Diesel's fate. Is he in a happy home, or has he been sold for medical research? Is Diesel being used in South Florida's underground dog fighting rings? Experts say any one option is a possibility, and warn against Internet ads that offer animals free to a good home.

Amanda Chussler, Tri County Humane Society: "Once you give your animal up or rehome that animal, most of the time it's in good faith. But unfortunately, it's 2013, and good faith doesn't work as well as it used to."

For Dan Dawson, the new year begins with a heavy heart and sleepless nights filled with worry about what has happened to his best friend. Carmel Cafiero, 7News.

WSVN -- Dan Dawson is holding Diesel in this photograph. He loves the dog he rescued as a puppy, but Diesel became aggressive.

Dan Dawson: "There was an altercation with my son at the gate. He got bit and we had to get rid of him. It was very tough. He was never anything but perfect for me, but I have to respect my family. Even though he was like my kid, I had to get him a new home."

Dan posted a desperate message on Craigslist warning time was running out for Diesel.

Linda Gall: "I saw an ad on Craigslist."

Linda Gall of Fort Lauderdale responded to the ad, and told Dan to call John Klein of Pompano Beach. Dan says Klein told him he fosters dogs, and agreed to keep Diesel for a short time until Dan could find him a forever home. But when Dan called to say he had found a good home for Diesel, Klein told him he gave the dog away.

Dan Dawson: "At that point everything changed, and he went from nice guy to, 'Sir, you're just going to have to let go. When you dropped the dog off here, he was mine.'"

Dan was heartbroken, not knowing what happened to his dog.

Dan Dawson: "I said, 'Please give me the guy's number so I can tell him what Diesel likes, doesn't like, what to be concerned with. If there's this action, how to treat him.'"

But Klein says he doesn't have the Miami man's phone number.

John Klein: I clear my phone automatically on a daily basis."

Klein admitted to me he doesn't do background checks, so he has no information on the man from Miami who took Diesel.

John Klein: "The individual wound up leaving with the animal, gave me $50 for dog food, not the dog. Be very clear on that. That was it. There's really nothing more to say."

So no one knows Diesel's fate. Is he in a happy home, or has he been sold for medical research? Or is Diesel being used in South Florida's underground dog fighting rings? Experts say any one option is a possibility, and warn against Internet ads that offer animals free to a good home.

Amanda Chussler, Tri County Humane Society: "Once you give your animal up or rehome that animal, most of the time it's in good faith. But unfortunately, it's 2013, and good faith doesn't work as well as it used to."

For Dan Dawson, the new year begins with a heavy heart and sleepless nights filled with worry about what has happened to his best friend. Carmel Cafiero, 7News.