PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Rags, an English Sheepdog stolen from an Alabama woman last year, has now been reunited with his owner.
Arizona’s Family first reported the beloved, deaf dog was found in the city of Maricopa the day after Christmas.
“I just couldn’t be happier. I can’t wait to get him home to see his brothers and for him to see his dad and my family. It just doesn’t feel real just so grateful,” said Rags’ owner Olivia Gardner.
Gardner flew into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on Saturday evening and was reunited with Rags.
“For us to be able to help bring him home to Olivia it’s a great opportunity, and we’re very happy for them,” said Sgt. Kevin Mellor with the Maricopa Police Department.
Surveillance cameras captured the moment in Dec. 2023 when a masked person opened the door of an Alabama home and then walked away with Rags seconds later.
The Silverhill Police Department in southern Alabama contacted the Maricopa Police Department after getting an anonymous tip that Rags might be in Arizona.
“The Silverhill Police Department reached out to us because they got an anonymous tip regarding Rags being in our jurisdiction, and we just started digging from there,” said Sgt. Chase Jordan.
Police in Maricopa ended up recovering Rags and were there for the big reunion on Saturday between Olivia and Rags.
“I can’t even begin to explain how special today is,” says Gardner. “It really is a Christmas miracle.”
Gardner plans on taking Rags back home to Alabama to reunite him with the rest of the family.
Shortly after Rags disappeared last year, there were reports of a custody battle involving the special needs sheepdog, who is deaf. Rags’ original owners had put Rags up for adoption, then months later filed a lawsuit to get him back.
Maricopa Police confirmed that the people who had Rags in Arizona are connected to Rags’ original owners back in Alabama.
The exact motive behind the dognapping is under investigation.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Copyright 2024 KTVK/KPHO. All rights reserved.
Source link https://www.azfamily.com/2024/12/29/stolen-dog-alabama-recovered-arizona-now-reunited-with-owner/
