HOLLAND, Ohio – The family‑run LaPoint Discount Auto in Toledo is rallying neighbors, volunteers and law‑enforcement to locate Scrappie, the beloved cat that has been part of the shop for four years. Owners Greg LaPoint and Heather Smith‑LaPoint say Scrappie disappeared on Friday after two men entered the shop, smelled of marijuana and left with the animal in a van.
Details of the disappearance
According to LaPoint, the men arrived with a van door open, and Scrappie, apparently attracted to the scent, hopped inside. “I saw the cat around them because they were smoking and the cat, I don’t know, liked the smell of it,” LaPoint recalled. After the men departed, the LaPoints closed up for the night and could not locate Scrappie.
Security‑camera footage, LaPoint says, shows the two men exiting the premises with the cat in the back of the van. The owners filed a report with the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office and have been distributing flyers throughout the Eastside of Toledo.
Confrontation and ongoing search
LaPoint later identified one of the men, visited his address and confronted him. The man initially denied involvement, calling LaPoint “weird,” but later admitted, “Yeah, I did take your cat. She’s just a stray.” He claimed to have dumped Scrappie somewhere on the Eastside, roughly 14‑15 miles from the shop.
“I’m fearing for her safety. It’s animal cruelty to take a cat from its loving home and kick it out on the street,” LaPoint said. The LaPoints have been walking the neighborhoods, checking Scrappie’s bed and food bowl, and asking residents if they have seen the cat.
Community response
Local volunteers have responded quickly. “So many people have stepped up and have helped us look for her. People have helped us search the streets, neighborhoods, they’ve shared all the social media. It just warms our hearts,” Smith‑LaPoint said.
Several residents have reported possible sightings on the Eastside, though none have been confirmed. The LaPoints continue to hand out flyers and post updates on social media, hoping the community’s eyes will locate Scrappie.
Reward offered
To encourage tips, the LaPoints are offering a $500 reward for Scrappie’s safe return. They ask anyone with information to contact the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office or reach out directly through the shop’s social‑media channels.
Scrappie has become more than a shop mascot; she greets customers, keeps workers company and represents the close‑knit spirit of small‑business owners in Toledo. The LaPoints remain hopeful that the community’s support will bring her home.
Original reporting: 13abc WTVG Toledo (news) — read the source article.
