Puppies Stolen From Outside Animal Hospital in Highland Park

by City News Service

Six bulldog puppies bred to help disabled people were stolen outside a Highland Park animal hospital earlier this week, and the owner on Friday sought the public's help getting them back.

The 6-week-old dogs were snatched from a vehicle Monday while the owner was inside the animal hospital paying a bill, ABC7 reported.

Surveillance video showed two suspects leaving the area with the puppies.

"I felt so scared, so sad they were taken because they were so innocent," said the owner, who is hearing impaired and was raising the animals to be service dogs. "Why would you take them from me, a very loving parent of the babies? All I want is my babies back."

The puppies were still being nursed, and their mother remains with the owner, ABC7 reported.

"She mopes around the house searching for puppies," the owner said. "It hurts me so much, watching her searching for puppies."

The dogs, not yet mature enough to be out on their own, are worth about $1,000 each, ABC7 reported.

"It just broke my heart when I saw what happened, I mean she's been here for the last two days just crying," Dr. Ronaldo Vasquez, the dogs' veterinarian, told ABC7.

"The first vaccines the immunity is very weak on them. That's why they were here—to get vaccinated—and that's why she brought them to their car, so she wouldn't be exposed to any other sick dogs."

Five male puppies and one female were taken, ABC7 reported, and anyone who sees them was urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

"I'm begging everyone to help me find them and bring them back to me safely," the owner said. "That's all I'm asking for."