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Panicked, Bonfim and her mom called Toronto police and filed a report on Tuesday. However, police determined their case falls under the jurisdiction of a civil matter rather than criminal.

“Police did call the ex and explained how upsetting his actions were,” said Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu. “A deal is a deal. The correct thing would have been to have that discussion before selling the dog, but there’s nothing criminal. It’s like a husband and wife buy a TV and then they separate — who owns the TV? Even though I know this is a living creature.”

Bonfim said both she and her ex-boyfriend have been calling the woman who purchased Tina, however, with no luck. When the Toronto Sun attempted to reach the woman, the phone rang and there wasn’t voicemail.

“We were trying to explain the situation to her, but she didn’t believe us. She thought it was a scam,” she said. “She cancelled her phone number, so we can’t contact her anymore.”

Bonfim’s ex-boyfriend, who asked not to be named, said Wednesday he had recently asked Bonfim to pay for the dog and was told she didn’t know if she could afford to. He insists she knew he was going to sell the pet.

“I told her before and I asked her if she wanted to buy the dog,” he said. “Her mom told her she doesn’t have the money and I told her I need the money … She keeps on saying it’s only her dog. But on the paper, it says my name on it. They’re upset and I’m trying to solve it, but I can’t reach the person I sold the dog to.”

Photo by Laura Bonfim/Facebook

Bonfim counters she offered to purchase the dog and that her ex had not even proposed the idea to her.

The teen and her mom have since taken to Facebook, posting in various lost dog groups. That plea has been shared almost 900 times since Monday.

“We’re hoping the lady who has Tina right now can see it and we can possibly get her back,” she said.

Bonfim had hoped to give Tina, who has black and white hair and a “very playful” attitude, a forever-home.

“We only had her for seven months, but she was already part of our family,” she said. “My brother has depression. She was helping him get through that. We’re all devastated she’s gone.”

jyuen@postmedia.com