Feast on Fortune: The Story of a Dog Which Ate $4000 in Cash

In a bizarre incident that has caught the attention of netizens worldwide, a Pittsburgh-based couple had to embark on an unexpected money recovery mission. This is because their pet dog, a 7-year-old goldendoodle named Cecil, ate $4000 in cash. 

Cecil, The Money-Eating Dog

Cecil, a usually well-behaved pet, had surprised his owners, Clayton and Carrie Law, with this unprecedented act.

The Laws had just withdrawn the funds for a home renovation from their bank and placed the money on the kitchen counter. To their disbelief, within 30 minutes, Cecil had feasted on the cash, leaving behind a trail of half-eaten and half-shredded bills. 

They called their vet, who assured them that Cecil would be fine, but they would have to wait for him to pass the money naturally.

The Recovery Mission

As the reality of the situation set in, the couple turned to the internet for answers. And, they found that mutilated currency could be sent to the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Washington, D.C. office for redemption. 

They also learned that the Bureau could redeem mutilated currency if at least half of each bill was salvageable. However, the projected waiting period was between six months and three years. This has prompted them to seek a more immediate solution.

Contacting their bank, the Laws were informed that such incidents were not as rare as they may have thought. They could deposit the damaged bills as long as the full serial numbers were visible on both sides. 

The bank advised them to wait until Cecil naturally expelled the cash, leading to a unique three-day recovery operation.

The couple then embarked on a messy mission to retrieve the money from Cecil’s vomit and feces. They wore gloves and masks and used plastic bags and dish soap to wash the bits of bills. They also tried to piece together the bills with tape, matching the serial numbers. 

This painstaking process of sorting through their pet’s daily waste was definitely a task they had never envisioned.

The Incident Goes Viral

In an unexpected twist, the couple captured their ordeal and posted it on Instagram, where it quickly went viral. Nearly 12 million people have viewed the video since it was posted, and Clayton has even landed a new client.

As a result of their tireless efforts, the couple managed to recover approximately $3,500 of the original amount. In the meantime, they are holding on to the recovered cash and plan to see if their bank will accept it.

Reflections and Lessons Learned

After being met with shock and fear at first, the incident has turned into a source of humor and a special family tale that the couple can tell their son.

The Bureau gets more than 22,000 requests yearly for the study and redemption of mutilated currency. Eventually, it can add Cecil’s story to the list of unusual currency mutilation instances. Cecil has certainly raised the stakes in a world where it’s common to see dogs devour homework, demonstrating that sometimes the real world may be stranger than fiction.