{"id":147948,"date":"2025-08-15T13:51:25","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T13:51:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/147948\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T13:51:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T13:51:25","slug":"american-bully-dog-stolen-on-nyc-subway-reunited-with-overjoyed-owner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/147948\/","title":{"rendered":"American Bully dog stolen on NYC subway reunited with overjoyed owner"},"content":{"rendered":"

An American Bully dog named Roc swiped from a homeless man sleeping on a Bronx subway train<\/a> was reunited with his owner Thursday after someone dropped the purloined pooch off at an NYPD stationhouse in the borough, officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s Daddy\u2019s Roc! That\u2019s Daddy\u2019s Roc!\u201d overjoyed dog owner Charles Williams screamed outside the 44th Precinct stationhouse<\/a> as his four-legged best friend smothered him with sloppy dog kisses.<\/p>\n

The two have been separated since early Sunday, when someone stole Roc as Williams, 45, slept on a northbound D train<\/a> heading into the Norwood-205th St. station, the line\u2019s last stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019ll never happen again,\u201d Williams whispered to Roc as he petted the excited pooch. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry. I got you. I got you. You\u2019re OK. You\u2019re OK.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CharlesCharles Williams hugs his American Bully dog, Roc, after they were reunited outside the NYPD’s 44th Precinct stationhouse in the Bronx on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (Julian Roberts-Grmela \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

The dog was dropped off anonymously outside the NYPD police station, which is four blocks from Yankee Stadium<\/a>, Thursday morning, a police source with knowledge of the case said.<\/p>\n

Whoever left the pooch there didn\u2019t stick around to talk to police about it, the source said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my companion. He\u2019s my best friend. He\u2019s my family. I can\u2019t go without him,\u201d said Williams, who moved to the city from upstate Poughkeepsie around three years ago. \u201cIf the person that took him decided to bring him back, he did the right thing. I thank the cops for doing their job, a diligent job, in finding him.\u201d<\/p>\n

The man who snatched Roc, who was described as being in his 20s and was last seen sporting a black Yankees cap and medium-length braids, remained on the loose Thursday.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe alleged dognapper (left), was dressed in all black and wearing a black Yankees cap, when he took Roc (right) from his sleeping owner, cops said. (NYPD)<\/p>\n

Once the dog was dropped off at the precinct, cops immediately recognized Roc as the canine taken from Williams and reached out to the homeless man, who immediately ran over to pick him up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to cry,\u201d Williams said as a flurry of emotions crashed over him. \u201cI know God is real, because I\u2019m in a big city, and in a big city like New York, you know, you may not find your dog. I ain\u2019t think I was going to get him back. He\u2019s the only family that I have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams has owned Roc since April 2024. The American Bully will be turning 2 in October, the proud dog owner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been holding me down for the past year and a half,\u201d Williams said. \u201cHe\u2019s all I have. He depends on me. I depend on him, and I feel like I let him down.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut don\u2019t worry, it\u2019ll never happen again,\u201d he vowed.<\/p>\n

Williams lost his job as a restaurant chef at Kennedy Airport and his apartment in the Bronx about a mile from the precinct at the same time and has been homeless for about a month.<\/p>\n

In order to beat the sweltering heat on Saturday night, Williams took Roc into the transit system. The two rode the rails on the D train all night, he told the Daily News.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrains have a little bit of air on them,\u201d he said. \u201cI wanted to keep cool. I got on the train at Yankee Stadium. And we rode all the way to Brooklyn, all the way back to the Bronx, all the way back to Coney Island, and all the way back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CharlesCharles Williams hugs his American Bully dog, Roc, after they were reunited outside the NYPD’s 44th Precinct stationhouse in the Bronx on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (Julian Roberts-Grmela \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

During a return trip back up to the Bronx on Sunday morning while at the W. Fourth St. station in Manhattan, the dognapper entered Williams\u2019 subway car and sat right across from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoc was sitting under me,\u201d Williams recalled. \u201c[The other guy] was looking at him, you know, making little eyes at him. I paid no attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

A short time later, Williams leaned his head next to the side of the subway car and \u201cdozed off,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As the train headed toward its last stop, the crook leaned over, began petting Roc, unclasped his leash and took the dog without waking Williams, said the homeless man, who was later shown surveillance footage of the dastardly dognapping from inside the subway car.<\/p>\n

\u201cI woke up at 205th St. with just the leash in my hand,\u201d the heartbroken dog owner said. \u201cThe last time I remember looking at my dog was 161st St.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t ate anything since Saturday because I haven\u2019t had an appetite,\u201d he told The News.<\/p>\n

When Williams showed up at the 44th Precinct, his heart leapt as he immediately recognized Roc.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the only Bully in the Bronx,\u201d he said proudly. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of Bullies out here in New York City, but no Bully has his markings. He\u2019s the only Bully that\u2019s that color.\u201d<\/p>\n

More importantly, Roc recognized Williams as soon as he stepped into the stationhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe heard my voice and he stood up. I said, \u2018Roc!\u2019 He started crying,\u201d the proud dog owner recounted. \u201cThis is my boy. He knows Daddy, and Daddy knows him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CharlesCharles Williams leaves the NYPD’s 44th Precinct stationhouse in the Bronx on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, after he was reunited with his American Bully dog, Roc. (Julian Roberts-Grmela \/ New York Daily News)<\/p>\n

American Bullies share common ancestry with pit bulls but are generally more laid back in temperament.<\/p>\n

The at-large thief could be looking for a new dog, Williams feared.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor all dog owners, just take care of your babies. Watch over your babies,\u201d he warned. \u201cPeople are stealing babies. It is stupid. Who takes a dog?\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the brutal heat wave, Williams and Roc were sleeping outside before the dognapping and will keep on doing so now, since Roc isn\u2019t officially registered as a support dog.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Roc has been out on the street, parks, staircases, rooftops over the past month, because I can\u2019t get in the shelter with him, because he\u2019s not officially a support dog, but I got him for emotional support,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI think that shelters should lift their laws for dogs, you know, especially when it\u2019s a nice dog\u2026 he\u2019s not a vicious dog, he\u2019s a very loving dog.\u201d<\/p>\n

So the two will tough it out together, he vowed, saying, \u201cIt was me and him. It\u2019ll be me and him. Ride it out till the wheels fall off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

On Sunday, a pup named Rock was stolen from his owner on a subway. We are happy to announce that Rock has been found and is safe.<\/p>\n

Watch the heartwarming reunion made possible by our officers at the @NYPD44Pct<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/82zXL3KkM7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) August 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Williams did sleep in a shelter during the nights Roc was missing, but having his best buddy back is more important to him than a comfortable night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Animal Care Centers of NYC recently reached its capacity for sheltering animals<\/a> for the first time in its history, with the organization chalking it up partly to the city\u2019s housing affordability crisis and homelessness. Williams, though, said he\u2019ll never abandon Roc, no matter what.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo some of us,\u201d he said, \u201cour animals aren\u2019t just pets, they\u2019re family. And my dog\u2019s not just my pet. He\u2019s my family. He\u2019s like my son.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not giving my dog up. He helps me cope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams, along with Roc, were offered to stay in a dog-friendly shelter by the city.<\/p>\n

Anyone with information on the thief is asked to call Crime Stoppers<\/a>\u00a0at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.<\/p>\n

Originally Published: August 14, 2025 at 1:55 PM EDT<\/p>\n