Katie Jo, shih poo

Dog lost for month returned to couple
By Ana LeyStaff Writer
Monday, March 18, 2013

With the help of watchful San Antonians, a dog lost when an Iowa couple's pickup was burglarized while they toured the Alamo City last month is back with her family.

Katie Jo, a 4-year-old Shih Poo went missing in February and was recently recovered

James Maschmann told police he and his wife, Hettie, went into a Cracker Barrel on Southeast Military Drive near Interstate 37 on Feb. 7 while their 4-year-old Shih-poo named Katie Jo waited in their pickup outside.

They left the passenger-side window open so she could get some air, according to an incident report.

When they returned, she was missing along with Maschmann's cellphone and other personal belongings. Hettie Maschmann suspects Katie Jo may have jumped on the pickup's door and unlocked it, because there were no obvious signs of forced entry on the truck.

San Antonio police issued an alert Wednesday asking people to come forward with any information about the missing pet, and the couple on Saturday posted a Craigslist ad offering $1,000 for her return. The couple said the Shih-poo, a Shih Tzu-poodle mix, is valued at $500.

After local television stations aired photographs of the tiny, almond-eyed furball last week, the couple got a bevy of calls from residents who spotted Katie Jo around town.

A local couple called late Sunday and offered to return her to the Maschmanns, who were still in the New Braunfels area. The Maschmanns thanked them with the $1,000 reward.

“It's not like we have a money tree in our backyard in Iowa,” Hettie Maschmann said, adding that her husband had even considered offering his Harley Davidson motorcycle as a reward. “But you just can't put a value on (Katie Jo).”

She said the tame, playful dog — though a bit more timid since the incident — surprisingly has gained weight.

“I was expecting to find her very thin,” Hettie Maschmann said. “She's very chubby.”

A Facebook page dedicated to Katie Jo's return thanked San Antonians for helping the couple find her.

“Katie Jo is home safe and sound!!” a wall post read. “Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and prayers! We are absolutely overjoyed to have her back! God bless all of you who spread word about Katie and assisted us in getting her back.”

Police said no one has been charged in the theft.

Source http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Couple-gets-stolen-dog-back-4363005.php#photo-4341473