Fortune for Purloined Pooch November 16, 2001 7:48 am EST TORONTO (Reuters) - The Gates' family dog may be a mutt rather than a fancy purebred, but he's a mutt they love. And they're willing to pay $10,000 Canadian ($6,300 U.S.) for the safe return of their abducted canine. Gord Gates, who is offering the huge reward, has been searching since mid-October for Terry, a cocker spaniel-poodle cross that Gates describes as more of a family member than a mere pet. "He added a loving quality to the household," Gates said on Thursday. "We want him back badly, and we love him." The golden-haired "cockapoo" disappeared during a routine walk with a family relative, Gates said. The dog was left tied up outside a store in central Toronto, but when the relative returned, the dog and leash were gone. Since the apparent abduction, Gates, his wife and two children, have embarked on a poster and e-mail campaign. Now they're offering the big reward for Terry's return. Though it may seem a hefty price for the return of a pet, Gates said his family's dog is worth the money. Forget a new computer or a car, he said. "None of these things are comparable to getting the dog back."