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Sorry to post this here. It is not exactly music but kind of music related. I was at a bar this evening that often has live music (singer/songwriter stuff) called ' Miles Smiles'. A woman was there when I got there who was introduced to me as the daughter of a famous Austrian first violinist (she was about 55). Apparently, she thought she was the fiancee of the barman (an accordionist friend of my best friend and a member of my best friend's band)... Seeing as nobody batted an eyelid over this, I assumed it to be true. She did not get off to a fine start with me because, in the first few minutes, she accused me of being gay? I have no problem with gays and I know several but I am NOT one of them. Then she muttered something about her dog being in love with mine and could she take my dog for a walk? I let her do this and she brought my dog back again after about 5 minutes. Then, about half an hour later, she did it again. Then, about half an hour later, she did it again but... SHE NEVER RETURNED!!!!  What on Earth could have been her motive? I mean, how could somebody steal somebody else's DOG!!  Asta is 9 years old and I rescued her from a dog's kennels where she had been abandoned some six months before. Asta has no official pedigree and I have no money - so what on Earth can this woman be thinking??? And this in a land where they are scared to cross the road if there is not a ' Green Man' showing...
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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G'day Sam,
going on your description, I'd guess the lady in question was a bit of a "character". If she is a local she would be a well known identity and thus you may be able to track her down with a few judicious questions in and around the bar you were at...
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya  --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Thanks, Lawrie. I am quite put out about this.
My g/f and sponsor wants to go straight to the police and make a formal complaint. She believes the same as you - if this woman is who she said she was, it shouldn't be hard to track her down. In any case, she MUST be local as Vienna shuts down at midnight on a Sunday night and there was no reason for anybody to be at tha bar who was not local... There was no gig tonight and no live music so she has to be local.
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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I'd call the cops and she'd better hope they find her first.
Like the man said, "ain't that a kick in the head!"
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The first reported dog-knap case on these boards.
Seriously, Sam I know we get very attached to pets so I hope this story has a happy ending and soon.
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I wouldn't be surprised if you get a ransom note, it happens over here across the big waters quite a bit. Hope your dog knows the way home. Go to the cops, the longer you wait, the farther away your pup could be. Good luck Wyndham
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Wow, some people live soap opera lives. The most excitement I've had in years happened 2 nights ago when some kook drove around our small crescent street too fast for the corner 3 houses down and went onto someones front yard. I had to take an extra Xanax. Europe is another planet, you can't take your dog into any public building, bar etc., here unless you are blind and the dog is leading you.
Maybe the woman in question was just feeling alone and couldn't pick up a guy in the bar so she targeted the dog.
OK, taking my tongue outta my cheek again.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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That's a dog-gone sad story, literally. Hope it works out well for you, Sam.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Sam, that is very sad. Very sad. I sincerely hope that you will get your dog back. Those of us that are dog lovers can appreciate the panic that this is causing you. For what it's worth, I've offered up a prayer that you will get Asta back in good health and with a wagging tail.
I have to ask - is it typical in Austria to allow strangers to take your dog for a walk? That would not be the case here in the US.
-Scott
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Yes, it would be an odd thing here, indeed.
Like the man said, "ain't that a kick in the head!"
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First,
I'm really sorry that your dog has been dognapped, and I hope you get it back quickly and safely.
Second of all, I'm assuming that they European laws about pets in public food establishments are quite different than ours are in the States.
Third, if someone was introduced to me as someone's daughter/niece/fiancee of the best friend's bandmate I wouldn't have an issue. However, if she, out of nowhere decides that I was gay/straight/trans/whatever just based on a moment of conversation, my guard would be up considerably.
Fourth, if her dog was able to communicate to her that she was in love with your dog, that would further put my defenses up.
In the U.S., we have dog walking services, or pet-sitters, and out here, those people are checked out, references, past history, etc., before most people will let them anywhere near their dog unattended.
I'm assuming that things on the Continent are different than here, radically.
I would go to the police, I would be talking to your best friend about his accordionist and who this girl was, and I would also be doing everything in my power to track this person down.
I hope you get Asta back, and quickly.
Gary
I'm blessed watching God do what He does best. I've had a few rough years, and I'm still not back to where I want to be, but I'm on the way and things are looking far better now than what they were!
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I would revisit the scene of the crime and *quietly* ask a few regulars if they know this woman, have seen her before, where she might be.
And I wouldn't say a word about my dog to anybody there, either.
--Mac
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Thanks very much for the concern and prayers, folks! Asta has been picked up by the kennels in South Vienna. They called me at 2.30 this morning to let me know she is safe and well.  Mac, that's what we did and then we went to the police to make a formal statement - who frankly thought the whole thing was a joke and did not want to be bothered about it, let alone take a formal statement. They did have a record of their visit last night to the bar (I called them out there at 2am). So, at least it was noted in their incident reports. The woman who took Asta also claimed to be the daughter of a very famous chellist and conductor called Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She claimed her name was Pascale and she was a concert violinist. A Google search threw up a woman called Elisabeth Von Magnus, who did look like her in a sisterly kind of way but she is a Mezzo-Soprano... But there is no Pascale daughter - just Elisabeth and three brothers, one of whom was killed in a car accident. I will think twice before ever letting anybody take her for a walk again unless I KNOW for a fact that they are known for sure - thing was, I thought she was telling the truth when she said was engaged to the barman / accordionist. More fool me  Oh well, I live and learn. Never a dull moment in my Life  By the way, it isn't dognapping as there was no ransom note but it sure was dog rustling! Dog rustling in Vienna , who would have believed it? Well done Asta for getting away from her
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Safe and well! Wonderful words to hear! I'm so happy for you Sam. And for Asta - what an ordeal for her. I'm sure she'll be very relieved to be home.
Josie
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Now Sam,
This story definitely the makings of a Harry Connick Jr. type of song. Write out the main points in outline form.
Tell this story in a song - I'm waiting.
You couldn't ask for better inspiration.
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Just what I was thinking... Title? How about 'The Dog Rustler'?
I won't be able to get around to it until next week at the earliest though. My Mother and Brother and Sister-In-Law are paying me a surprise visit this week to celebrate my birthday. I am not supposed to know about it...
Follow That Dream Sam Karaoke King -------------------- Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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Good news, Sam. You got your dog back and a country song out of the experience!
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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'ang on, can't be a country song, he got his dog BACK!  Pleased for ya Sam.
--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya --=--You're only paranoid if you're wrong!
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Sam, I`m so happy you got Asta back. I saw her once when Sam took her with him, when he visited one of my gigs around his district. She`s such a cutie Take good care of her, Sam, as she always took good care of you when you were lonely. Sandra
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