$20,000 SEARCH FOR SIMON OH WHERE, OH WHERE HAS HIS LITTLE DOG GONE? ENCINO LAWYER LOOKS FOR WEEKS.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer ENCINO -- Steve "Bernie" Bernheim drives at a crawl through the darkest hours each night, calling out for his miniature pinscher miniature pinscher, breed of lively toy dog originating in Germany in the late 19th cent. It stands from 10 to 12 in. (25.4–30.5 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 8 to 10 lb (3.6–4.5 kg). , Simon. Searching for the missing 12-inch pooch that could dance on his two hind feet. "It's rough, man," said the 46-year-old Encino attorney, his hair tousled after nearly three weeks of turning L.A. inside-out for his best-of-all friend. "It's one of the worst things that ever happened to me -- maybe the worst. But I have hope." Each year, thousands of Angelenos lose family pets. But what sets this single, tort attorney apart may be the lengths, including spending some $20,000, he's gone in trying to find his pal. Four years ago, Bernheim discoveredthe black-and- brown "min pin," cowering cow·er intr.v. cow·ered, cow·er·ing, cow·ers To cringe in fear. [Middle English couren, of Scandinavian origin.] at the East Valley Animal Shelter "Dog Pound" redirects here. For the rap group, see Tha Dogg Pound. An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats. . He named him Simon, after Simon Cowell Simon Cowell (born 7 October, 1959) is a British artist and repertoire ("A&R") executive for Sony BMG in the United Kingdom and a television producer, more commonly known as a judge on television programmes such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, American Idol of "American Idol," for his initial curmudgeonlike behavior. They were soon joined at the ears -- riding on Bernheim's Vespa, hanging out at The Grove, going on first dates, taking in big-screen movies, going out for breakfast, even appearing before a federal judge during mediation. The brave little dog could leap from balconies without a scratch. Scamper the edge of swimming pools. Hoof hoof, horny epidermal casing at the end of the digits of an ungulate (hoofed) mammal. In the even-toed ungulates, such as swine, deer, and cattle, the hoof is cloven; in the odd-toed ungulates, such as the horse and the rhinoceros, it is solid. it on his two hind feet. But at 3 a.m. on May 5, Bernheim ducked out of his home atop Mulholland Drive for a run down to Mel's Diner. Simon, who apparently scampered out the gate after him, hasn't been seen since. "The first two weeks, I didn't work at all," said Bernheim, a class-action consumer lawyer who won more than $27million in insurance company settlements for work not completed after the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. "I worked at getting Simon 24 hours a day. ... Basically, I treated this like grass-roots advertising. I (just) want my dog back." He's driven countless miles, his Land Rover plastered with rolling $2,500-reward billboards. He's tacked up more than 1,000 reward signs between Chatsworth and Studio City. He's taken out numerous ads, online and in print. He's shoved leaflets under windshield wipers
The Wipers were a punk rock group formed in Portland, Oregon in 1977 by guitarist Greg Sage, drummer Sam Henry and bassist Dave Koupal. and handed them to UPS drivers. He's scoured city animal shelters. He's contacted just about every vet in Los Angeles -- more than 400 of them -- and a bevy bevy a flock of birds. of rescue agencies. He's conducted 5,000 automated "robocalls" saying, "Your neighbor, Steve, has lost his dog, Simon." He has even hired a "pet detective," as well as a "professional dog tracker" from Oklahoma. In recent weeks, the microchipped 10-pound min pin with floppy ears and stubby stub·by adj. stub·bi·er, stub·bi·est 1. a. Having the nature of or suggesting a stub, as in shortness, broadness, or thickness: stubby fingers and toes. b. docked tail has become as familiar to Valley residents as Angelina is to L.A. "It's so sad," said Margery Grossman, a self-proclaimed "dog mom" from Encino who has noticed the lost-Simon signs along Ventura Boulevard. "I told my husband I just want to find that dog for him." In desperation, the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of native paid a dog detective $950 -- for one day's advice on how to hang posters. Bernheim then shelled out $12,000 for a self-proclaimed dog tracker from Oklahoma who arrived with five mutts guaranteed to sniff out Simon. For eight days last week, the tracker led her dog team to supposed Simon hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. -- from the Encino golf course, to Tom Petty's house, to the 405 Freeway. But each time, she told Bernheim her dogs had lost the scent or were too tired to continue. "First I believed her," Bernheim said. "(Then) she milked me for all I had." Meanwhile, more than 100 callers responded to Bernheim's ad blitz for Simon. Some offered leads. Others called to say "I'm looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. my dog, too," or to offer a replacement dog. Most phoned to say their prayers were with Bernheim. There also were some cranks. "Hey, I've got your dog," growled one heckler heck·le tr.v. heck·led, heck·ling, heck·les 1. To try to embarrass and annoy (someone speaking or performing in public) by questions, gibes, or objections; badger. 2. To comb (flax or hemp) with a hatchel. . Bernheim said he has no regrets about the lengths he's gone to. "If it was reversed and he could do the same for me, he'd probably jump off a cliff for me, which is more than most humans would," he said. "What's money for, if not to save your best friend?" dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com 818-713-3730 HOW TO HELP Steve Bernheim is offering a $2,500 reward for anyone who can help him find Simon, his black-and-brown, neutered neu·ter adj. 1. Grammar a. Neither masculine nor feminine in gender. b. Neither active nor passive; intransitive. Used of verbs. 2. a. and microchipped miniature pinscher with uncropped ears and a docked tail. Call 310-975-4728. CAPTION(S): 3 photos, box Photo: (1 -- color) Steve "Bernie" Bernheim of Encino, tired and with his hair tousled after weeks of searching day and night for his missing dog, still keeps feeding dishes and a bed on the porch in case his lost pet, Simon, comes home on his own. (2 -- color) Simon, all dressed up for a date, has been missing since May 5. (3 -- color) A banner on the back of his sport utility vehicle advertises the $2,500 reward that Steve "Bernie" Bernheim of Encino is offering for the return of his black-and-brown miniature pinscher, Simon. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer Box: HOW TO HELP (see text) |
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