A dog is a man’s best friend, even if he is your coworker. At least that must be the way Barry Myrick feels.
The pest control professional is in a fight with his former employer, M&M Environmental in Queens, over his loyal partner — a bedbug-sniffing pit bull mix named Roxy.
“She’s my best friend,” said Myrick, who even has a tattoo of Roxy on his leg. “I committed to her long ago, and nothing’s going to come between me and her.”
Myrick, 37, had worked with Roxy for four years, inspecting commercial and residential properties, before he was laid off from the company in March.
Although the dog had been provided by M&M, which covered her food and veterinary bills, she lived with Myrick and his wife, Joana, ever since he picked her up in Florida after she received specialized training paid for by M&M.
On and off work, Myrick and Roxy have been inseparable ever since, enjoying hiking trips to Bear Mountain and vacations in Woodstock. “She’s a part of our family. This is the closest to kids we’ll have,” said Myrick, who doesn’t plan to have children.
But things turned “ruff” when, not long after the pandemic started, Myrick chose to be laid off rather than pivot and work for M&M as a COVID cleaner without Roxy. He returned his company vehicle, credit cards, and equipment, but not his pup partner, explaining that a manager had said to him, “You’re going to keep Roxy, right?”
On June 25, M&M sent a letter to Myrick calling the dog “company property” and demanding that she be returned immediately. When Myrick refused, M&M pursued legal action, reporting that Roxy was stolen and leading the Queens District Attorney’s Office to slap Myrick with charges of grand larceny.
The barking mad Myrick chose to be jailed rather than part with his precious pooch.
Still refusing to give up Roxy, Myrick in August surrendered to the NYPD. “I spent 15 hours in jail. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy,” said Myrick, who shared a cell with some 20 others. “The stories I heard were unreal — someone beat their stepdad with a baseball bat. I couldn’t tell anyone I was there for a puppy.”
M&M told The NY Post in a statement that the company always intended to rehire Myrick and that managers expected he would return to work by June.
But Myrick had moved from Brooklyn to Philadelphia in May and says he would not have left the city if he believed he would get his job back.
He admitted to The Post that in 2016, he signed a contract that “said that if I were to be terminated or if I were no longer working there, I would have to return Roxy.” But he alleged that M&M forfeited its claim to her when the company laid him off and didn’t ask for her back.
“When they left the dog with him in March, [M&M] made no arrangement … to get the dog or pay for the dog in the interim,” said Myrick’s lawyer, William J. Kurtz.
For now, a Queens judge — citing prior divorce-case custody rulings — is letting Myrick keep Roxy until the case is settled. M&M, however, said Roxy is a working dog, and this is a case of ownership, not custody.
What do you think, who does Roxy “belong” to, Myrick or his former employer? Please reply using the comments below!
Barry Myrick is Roxy’s true owner. Not only does he physically take care of Roxy but a love, attachment and bond has developed between them over the years and it would be a cruel and abusive action to allow Roxy to be taken away from the family. Roxy is not a piece of garbage to be thrown away to strangers who view the dog as a money making object devoid of emotions. Please allow Roxy to remain with Barry Myrick.
So. A contract is not a contract??
Roxy is a dog and all she cares about is being with her family she loves. Have you ever had a dog? They bond for life. Anyone who has loved a dog knows they are a genuine family member. The company even commented to Barry they didn’t want her if he ever left the company.
So is a dog not a dog?
Roxy, Belongs to Myrick.
Dogs are children. Leave her with her family. This tragic meds we are suffering is separating too many loved ones.
I AGREE!!
I had to put my dog down 18 months ago, She was 17 yrs, 3 months old. I’m still greiving and cry easily when I think of her. I know the intense love that exists between a human and a dog. Myrick owns her and she owns Myrick. Why would some huge company try to come between them.
I am a nurse. When i was studying for my nursing degree, i studied both the human and animal anatomy. We are all similar in many ways. But dogs are head of us in the sense of intelligence. I want to mention two things, Why use the word ”Put down” Why can’t you say put him or her to sleep. Also, why use the word ”Owner” Your dog, cat, or any other animal is family. Also, why use the word ”It” if you know the gender of the animal, say it!! If i don’t know the gender of the animal, i say ”He or She” Animals are feeling beings and have better senses than you humans. You all need to be educated with regards to animals, you will see the similarities.
I meant if you don’t know the gender of the animal, say ”he or she” If you all educate yourselves about animals, you will see what i am talking about. Their lives matter too!!!
Excellent, Lauren
because they are a big company and to them, Roxy is nothing but. Equipment. Mr. Myrick loves her, his family loves her and she loves them.
Let Roxy stay with the Myricks.
I BELIEVE THAT DOG BELONGS TO HIM NOW——– THAT THE M&M THAT DIDN’T MAKE ANY ARRANGEMENT FOR THE DOG. THAT IS TELL YOU THAT M&M DIDN’T CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT THE DOG. FOR FOR THE MAN TO TAKE JAIL TIME OVER THE DOGS SPEAKS VOLUMES OF HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE DOG.
Good for you, that Dog is his family and not an object.
Myrick…Myrick…Myrick…100% is the dogs owner now. Just another big company pushing there weight to make what point?!?! They don’t want the dog they just don’t Myrick to have him. Open-shut case, Myrick pay the company back what they think you owe them for the dogs up-keep, she’s worth it.
150%. Myricks. I can guarantee you. If the big co. Took her back, they would of sold her,humanly disposed of her or tied her up in a filthy, cold warehouse. Remember it’s a big Corp. No room for anything that cares for love and well being.. they don’t even like their employees. They are a nescessary evil, pain in the rear, and owners see their cash being spent on undeserving. They will kill the dog. It’s collateral, if the judge is any where near human the pup will stay in a home that loves her.. send back too the vorp it will be dead in six months.. Now if it gets a obamao/Biden wannabe judge or a Democrat. She is dead.. You know how much they hate the living, unless it’s a flowing cash source
And AMEN !
I agree that the dog now belongs to Myrick and Myrick belongs to Roxy. It would be cruel to part them. Companies by the very nature of being a company – often have no soul.
Let roxy decide or use King Solomons method
Not only is it unfair to Myrick, the judge has to consider the dog’s welfare in this breakup. If the dog could speak, do you think he’d choose to leave his owner? Let the
man keep the dog and the business can chalk it up to a business expense to replace him. The business can go to the shelter and save a life by training his replacement.
He should buy the dog from the company.
That’s a pretty good option.
I agree. Best solution.
The manager told him to take Roxy. That seems clear enough beside the bond with the dog.
I feel the court should rule in favor of Myrick. First, if you look at it from the company’s perspective they abandoned their property and therefore lose the right after the fact to claim it. On the other hand you have a man and his family who have bonded over the years and love each other. It is proven pets grieve the loss of their humans and I know first hand that we grieve the loss of our pets. Roxy is Myrick’s best friend and like a child to him. Their is a very special bond between the two that should not be ignored. I pray the court realizes that Roxy is a living creature with a heart and not just a piece of property.
The dog belongs to My Rick. He’ll have love and a safe place to live out his life. F@#k the company, think of the man and his loving pet
Barry Myrick your dog or BEST FRIEND is FAMILY. Four years is a long time & built this bond with Roxy.
M&M are being assholes. M&M probably had written Roxy off as a lost due to the pandemic. Barry on his own has been caring for him since he got laid off. I say that ROXY belongs to Barry Myrick 100%.
As harsh as this sounds, a dog is property not family. If a person purposely injures or even kills your dog, he will be charged with ‘damage to property.’ As close as you may be, a family pet is property.
Roxy belongs to Myrick. No doubt about it. That Co doesn’t want Roxy, they will probably have her euthanized. If he doesn’t stop this farce, I will personally come up there with my steel toed Army combat boots and plant them straight up his Arce
How many years do they want to work that poor dog? What do they do with the poor thing when it is too old? Maybe someone should call the Humane Society!
You are right. How many military dogs get euthanized. And corps overseas, I read one time years ago private corps overseas, who use dogs.never bring a dog back too USA. Vietnam listening to a man decades ago, he claimed every dog used during war, was killed, or eaten by natives.and any dog that goes too Africa is never brought back.Read all this over many decades, I always. Hoped this info was 100% wrong
whatever happened to possession being 7 tenths of the law
BARRY MYRICK’s FAMILY and ROXY BELONG TOGETHER – THEY ALL LOVE EACH OTHER ! SERIOUS QUESTION = M & M’s LEGAL FEES MUST FAR EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE DOG ?? IF YOU THEN FACTOR IN THE “BAD / ROTTEN PUBLICITY” THAT M & M WILL GET ! IT IS STUPID FOR THEM TO KEEP PROCEEDING AGAINST MYRICK. THINK OF ALL OF THE “GOOD / OUTSTANDING PUBLICITY” M & M CAN CREATE BY SIMPLY GIVING THE DOG “PUBLICLY” TO MYRICK ! AS A RETIRED MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT – I BELIEVE THAT M & M IS SHOOTING THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT BY THEIR STAND – or – AN OLD SAYING OF “CUTTING OFF THEIR NOSE TO SPITE THEIR FACE” !
Stay with him if dog tooling away from him dog would go in depression & have anxiety attacks
The company got it’s pound of flesh when Myrick did his jail time! If it’s compensation they seek then Myrick should set up a go fund me page which I’m certain will receive the donations to more than cover the cost and then some! I remember every dog I ever shared life with, its a love that never leaves.
Let me know I will contribute. Let the dog stay with myrick
Margaret PowerLet the dog stay with myrick. I will contribute
Margaret Power
If m&m is a Democrat ran company they will win because democrats are above any law
As I see it, Roxy belongs to Myrick! The manager asked him if you’re
going to keep Roxy?! I believe Roxy
belongs to Myrick
Myrick if i was in the pest control business i would hire you just on principles YOU keep that dog you fight them tooth and nail. Good luck and don’t give up the fight
Police Dogs stay with their families for life no matter what the circumstance! They cost upwards of $20,000 each.
It is pathetic that a business would take away a trained dog that has bonded to its handler.
This Pit Bull breed would grieve terribly and possibly not work again for any other handler. Give the guy a break and let him keep his dog. The ex-employee has a point about the employer not taking the dog back after he laid the worker off.
M&M Environmental should take the high road for the dog’s sake (and public relations). It would be tough enough for Roxy and Myrick even if they only lived/worked together for six months, but to separate them after four years would be unbearable. Roxy would grieve and wouldn’t understand. (It would be a real tragedy if the dog couldn’t function and died from a broken heart.)
Roxey is Myrics. Dog. Plain and simple. There is no reasonably thinking otherwise.
What heartless company would separate the dog from her family. I can appreciate her being a working dog, but it would be a travesty to separate them and they should be ashamed of themselves. The bad press has already cost them more than than a new dog, which quite honestly they don’t deserve to have!
I know how he feels about Roxy. In the first three places what would M&M do with the dog. He is a family member not a thing or piece of furniture.
The dog needs to stay with him. Dogs are family. Can’t believe that the company wants to take her away from him. He went to jail for her. Roxbury should be allowed to stay with Myric.
He should keep the dog. M@m could care less about the dog. Tell them the dog got the Chinese virus and lost his smell. I would like to see their faces on that one. He obviously loves the dog so he should keep it.
For M&M…. it’s a power play. They could care less about the dog.
They simply don’t want a former employee keeping the dog.
Why doesn’t Myrick offer to buy the dog or pay the M&M a fair & reasonable price for the dog.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MONEY WILL MAKE ANY AMERICAN COMPANY SIT AND LISTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think Roxy already belongs to Mirik, since both of them have already served time in prison.
Roxy most likely would not thrive being separated. She needs to be left where she is!
M&M will have so much BAD press from their bad decision that they will lose a lot of business over lt. Don’t separate the dog from the man who loves him so much! ! !
Roxy goes back to M&M. They own Roxy. M&M then can elect to gift Roxy to Mirik.
M&M is crumb bum out fit for trying to separate
Roxy from Mirik, Roxy thinks she is a family member
and Mirik is her lifelong dad and she will be completely
down and out without him..
The law is the law. But we have judges to interpret the law and to render judgments taking into consideration factors far beyond the law. In this case a wize judge would consider the whole picture and, I feel, would award Roxy to his family with Mirik.
Roxy belongs with his owner. She is not an object to be shufflied about
I agree start a go fund me page and buy the dog. I’ll contribute. That dog needs to stay right where she is in a good home.
This beautiful dog belongs with his caring loving family. This miserable company needs to go away and leave this man alone. There are more important issues than taking this precious dog away from his family. What can we do to help this man?
If you live to a thousand years old you will find a grater love than that of a per.
They should absolutely get to keep her! Maybe pay a small fee to be done with that company once and for All!! Good Luck👍👍🥰🥰
Why did anyone insist someone should have to give up a pet? Animals become like a family member. They give us unquestioning love and devotion for just food and water. They love, adore, worship and protect us often at the cost of their own life. You may never find a human with that devotion.
If Roxy is returned to the company, chances are that she will be making the final lap of her life. She deserves better than that. Let Myrick keep her.