How original. See 92.3 Chicago below 2009:

The Animal Protective League responded, and even Cleveland police showed up at the radio station and asked the disc jockeys to stop.

Live On Five Investigator Jodi Brooks reported that 92.3 Extreme Radio said there is an expectation among its listeners to be shocking and to push the envelope, and on Tuesday it started with a contest to win concert tickets.

“We had a bunch of different objects (and were) tying helium balloons to the objects and callers had to guess how many balloons (would) lift the objects off the ground,” disc jockey “Rover” said.

The disc jockeys then told listeners they were tying balloons to a cat.

This is what was heard on the radio: “Grab him, grab him! Somebody help me. Oh my God, you guys — he’s flying away! Look out the window. Oh my God, the cat is…”

The drama lasted for 3 ½ hours.

“Where is it? How far off the ground? It’s floating away, higher than the parking garage,” the disc jockeys said on air.

The APL received more than 100 calls, and police got word, too.

Here is an excerpt from one call to 911: “Hi, I’m listening to the radio, and there’s this radio station that had this girl tie balloons to her cat and it’s floating around in the air downtown. Is there anything you can do about it? The cat’s going to die.”

“You want the truth?” Rover said. “No, there was no cat out there. It was all theater of the minds.”

On the radio, the prank ended with more creativity.

“Someone out in Medina shot the balloons down,” said “Lunchbox,” a 92.3 producer. “The cat came to the ground and we recovered it. The cat’s OK.”

Cleveland police said no charges were filed because the radio station prank did not rise to the level of a crime. Also, as soon as the station was asked to stop, it did.

The APL is now demanding a retraction, admitting the incident was a joke.

The station said it will not offer any type of apology.

The new radio morning team compared themselves to Howard Stern, saying they want a reaction.

OUR OFFICE IS UP IN ARMS ABOUT THIS EVENT. I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU WOULD BE SO CRUEL TO AN INNOCENT ANIMAL, NEVERMIND BELOVED PET. THIS IS ANIMAL CRUELITY AT ITS BEST. SHAME ON YOU! YOUR RADIO STATION IS OFF MY PANEL FOREVER. DID YOU NOT THINK THAT THE DOG WOULD BE A MILLION FEET UP IN THE AIR AND THAT IT WOULD BE SCARED! WHAT IF IT WIGGLE OR SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE BALLOONS AND CHARLIE FALLS?! YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE. YOUR ARE TRULY HEARTLESS.

Seems like it’s a prank…pretty sure it is.

That is horrible and so not funny..i hope her pup is safe by now. Nick you should be ashamed. That pup must be scared to death…shame on all of you who thought this would be funny…

[...] for this poor dog. What a terrible human to do this. Here is the story straight from the website. How Many Balloons Could Lift Sarah Lee’s Dog? About 50. Now Can You Help Us Find Her? __________________ Nichole & Teddy "My little dog – a heartbeat at my [...]

My girlfriends got this cat I don’t like…he weighs about 8 lbs. Any idea how many balloons?

Later Nick! Forget about your job….you will be lucky to have a Wife after this one!

First of all the owner is at fault for ever agreeing to put her dog in danger. Shame on you.
Secondly, how does anyone find this funny to watch a helpless dog float away, terrified. The dog can be stuck somewhere unfound and starve to death, pecked by a bird and eating alive, even possibly drown if he reaches a body water.

What the hell is wrong with everyone taking part in this situation.
Just plane abuse.

All of you should be ashamed of yourself and be outside doing everything you possibly can to get Charlie Roo back down to safety.

Very upsetting to hear today so much so first time I have ever written into a radio show.

~ Christine Fiorentino~
cfdesignercf@aol.com

is this a joke?

Sitting here sick to my stomach…what the hell were you people thinking? Thank god one of the brainiacs who came up with this decided not to use a baby. Will never listen to you guys again…Lets pray that poor animal is ok, even though I think the outcome is going to be terrible. OMG…

Poor puppy…great for publicity! I never listen to the radio outside of my car but I HAD to log on (as soon as I got in the house)when I heard they lost the dog this morning. I’ve been locked in ever since! Hope it all works out for the best!

Hi Nick I know you did not mean to put the dog in harm ways. I have 4 Dogs and you were just joking i am sure you didn’t think that the dog would actually fly away. Plus you where not the one literally attaching the balloons to the dogs. Plus she was ok with the joke so she should have known better that maybe her dog would be in danger so obviously is not all your fault. I love you and your show you make my mourning i never used to listen to the radio and because of you i wake up and the first thing i do is turn on my radio!! You are awesome and people are just being dramatic and putting all of this on you not cool. Please do not put the blame on Nick and don’t take the show of the radio!! i love you Nick!!!

Shame on you Nick!! That poor dog is probably tramatized and scared for its life. Horrible horrible thing to do. What is wrong with you? That pup is scared to death! And Sarah Lee SAME ON YOU as the dogs owner for letting them do that to you pup. So sad

HOW DARE YOU!! That poor innocent animal is floating around NY scared to death. God forbid something happens and the dog slips out of the ropes tied around it and plunges onto the ground?? This is animal cruelty and you are a horrible person! You don’t deserve your own show and I will NEVER listen to you again – You should be ashamed of yourself!!

if any of you think this is real, you’re idiots

I believe this is just a prank. Looking at the video – how could the person filming it see that there is a dog attached. The dog is smaller than all those balloons and is so far up he couldn’t possibly see it. Hopefully I am right and the station is just trying to get a rise out of their listeners.

How horrible. That dog is dead if nit from a heart attack…from the lack of oxygen as it leaves the atmosphere. I pray all involved are not only cured but prosecuted. I hope Mariah says so long as well. The prank was evil in it’s inception. I feel sick to my stomach for thus poor innocent animal. SICK.

I am truly hoping this is a radio prank, I am just so upset to believe anyone could do that to an animal, what is wrong with you people, total animal abuse and not funny in any way, if it is not a prank, shame on you all!

Can anyone really see the dog? The image is so far away. I think it was a joke on the audience.

Don’t blamed on Nick or anybody else but yourself!!! Sarah Lee, how could you let this happen to your dog???? what was you thinking???? Your dog gonna die when it reach very high altitude with no oxygen, freeze to death, or when the balloons pops it will come down like a rocket!!!! You think it will survive the fall???? I feel sorry for your dog!!! let’s pray for miracle!

If this is a bit.. it’s in really bad taste.. if it’s real… god help you.

Honestly, this is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard of. You’re supposed to be someone who the public looks up to, you’re AN IDIOT. This falls under the relms of animal abuse and you should be arrested. The fear that poor dog is living through right now. And shame on you Sarah for allowing, you’re just as much to blame. I have a little maltese who I love unconditionally, I would NEVER allow this. Both of you should be arrested!!!

I WILL NEVER LISTEN TO THIS RADIO STATION AGAIN!! That poor dog if he is found alive will be traumatized! Everyone involved should suffer consequences! This is animal cruelty at its worst!! You should all be ASHAMED of yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I listened to the whole thing in the morning. I feel bad for the dog, i hope it was found by now and DO NOT THE SHOW OFF BECAUSE OF JUST THIS INCIDENT. Nick even said he knew he was wrong and i sincerely felt he was sorry. Sarah lee, you will find your dog, don’t worry!

Everybody relax.!!! This was a joke gone wrong. Both parties are to blame. Nick did not intend on anything like this happening.- It was not well thought out- Obviously!!! Lets all hope that the dog is okay.