 When the Baduns are talking on the phone to Cruella, they are  holding a newspaper. The only headline on the front page (apart from  the dognapping) is CARLSEN SPEAKS, and a picture of a capsized ship.  This helps us to date the story, since the Carlsen in question is  Kurt Carlsen, captain of the freighter Flying Enterprise, which sank  after a prolonged struggle in the Atlantic. This was the media event  of the year in 1952.