PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A Phoenix veteran says his small dog was stolen from his backyard earlier this month, and he’s pleading for help to bring her home as she goes without vital heart medication.
The dog, Tinkerbell, is a 12-pound chiweenie. Her owners say she has a severe heart condition and needs medication, making the search urgent.
The family says Tinkerbell disappeared on May 7 after they let their 12-year-old dog outside. Minutes later, they say she was gone.
The owners say they found her collar left behind in the yard, leading them to believe someone grabbed her.
“This is our kid missing… and I feel she was kidnapped. I really do,” Kip said.
Since then, the owners say they’ve received multiple reports of Tinkerbell being seen with a woman they don’t recognize, described as homeless, near the I-17 and State Route 51 freeways.
“We believe she’s being used for panhandling,” Kip said.
The family says they’ve been searching day and night, posting flyers and following up on tips, but Tinkerbell remains missing.
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