Emotional support dog stolen from family yard captured by surveillance

PATERSON, N.J. (WABC) — A Paterson, New Jersey family is seeking help after their 11-year-old daughter’s emotional support dog was stolen.

A 4-year-old Shih Tzu named Lulu was taken off the street over the weekend and the incident was captured on surveillance video.

The family is desperate to bring their beloved dog home. They said Lulu’s disappearance had brought a crushing loss.

“They sleep together, they eat together, they do everything together,” Carolina Gonzalez said.

The thief was filmed on Sunday afternoon while Lulu was a few meters from her house.

Lulu made her way to a back door but didn’t stray far from the house.

A woman was seen on video telling the driver of a Honda to head around the corner, then grabbed Lulu in broad daylight and took off in the vehicle.

Carolina Gonzalez distributed flyers throughout the neighborhood, hoping someone would recognize the suspect and bring Lulu home.

“I put up posters everywhere and I printed about 1,000 flyers. I put them everywhere. And no one called me for anything,” Gonzalez said.

So far, they have not received any calls and the more time passes, the more the concern for Lulu grows.

The woman seen in the video had gone to a bakery across the street before taking Lulu, but has not been seen in the area since Sunday.

Lulu’s family wants her back and says no questions will be asked.

“She’s like my daughter to me and she’s always by my side when I need her. And when I’m sad, I go around her and she helps me feel better.” » said 11-year-old Kaylee Fernández.

If you recognize the woman in the video, contact authorities.

“It’s an emotional support dog for her, she’s been very sad since Sunday. She was crying this morning. She went to school and I was called to pick her up because she was crying,” Gonzalez said .

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