Mercedes, shih tzu

Stolen dog returned to family
Renee Dials
Updated: Monday, 28 Feb 2011
Published: Saturday, 26 Feb 2011

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Update: A two-year old Shih tzu stolen from a home in Mobile has been returned. Family members say an anonymous person dropped it off at the police department. The family had been offering a $500 reward.

Latonga Sanders noticed the back gate was open when she and her daughters got home Wednesday evening. It was the first sign something was wrong.

"It's normally shut. We immediately thought something was wrong. Somebody had been in the yard," Sanders said.

The family realized someone had broken through the back door and stole televisions, laptops, computer games and jewelry. But that's not all.

"I just can't believe it happened. A dog? That's like stealing a person's child," she said.

Mercedes, their two-year-old Shih-tzu, was also missing.

"She's a neat dog. So whoever got her just grabbed her."

Taravia was the first to discover her dog was gone.

"When I went into the house and saw Mercedes was gone, I just fell on the ground and started crying," Taravia said.

A neighbor saw the burglar pull into the backyard, but it didn't appear to be suspicious.

"He stayed about 30 minutes. But we've got a pool, so they thought they was cleaning the pool," Sanders said.

Sanders said insurance will cover the stolen equipment and jewelry, but the family pet is irreplaceable. That's why Sanders is offering a reward for her return.

"$500, whatever, I just want my dog back. Anybody that have seen Mercedes I will give anything to get her back," Sanders pleaded.

Source: http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/family-offers-reward-for-stolen-dog