A young Saanich couple went to police for help after finding their lost dog was up for sale on an online classified site.
On Sunday, the pair told the Saanich police that Bieber, their year-old blue-nosed pit bull slipped its collar the day before near Cordova Bay Road and Lochside Drive.
After having no luck checking with the SPCA and Capital Regional District animal pound, they searched through classified ads online and found a for-sale posting, complete with photos of their dog. Bieber was being sold online for an asking price of $800.
Staff Sgt. Todd Bryant said in a release that officers "arranged to shadow the owners, who met the suspect sellers in the parking local of a local supermarket."
The would-be sellers, a 35-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, both Saanich residents, were arrested for theft.
Bieber was returned to his owners, and appeared to be in good health.
kslavin@saanichnews.com