'Sad and disgusting.' Pair of French bulldogs stolen from Longwood yard
Marley and Beyonce are both two years old, and the family has had them since they were puppies.
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A Longwood family is desperately searching for its two French bulldogs, which were stolen from their front yard on Dawson Street around 12:30 p.m. Monday.
While the gate was locked, security camera footage shows a masked person climbing over the fence, opening the gate and then walking off with the two dogs.
"It was unbelievable," said Frank Vega, whose family owns them. "It was sad and it was disgusting."
Marley and Beyonce are both 2 years old. Vega, along with his two siblings and their parents, has had them since they were puppies.
"They're a part of the community," he said. "Everybody knows our dogs, knows us, knows our family, but it's just sad to find out someone who has passed through these streets stole them."
In the video, one of the dogs tries to get away and run back home, but the person goes after her and, using what appears to be a belt, heads down the street with her, as the other dog follows.
"It's been traumatic, it's been crazy," Vega said. "Why would you steal them instead of other things that you could have stolen?"
The American Kennel Club tells News 12 that French bulldogs have actually been the breed of dog that has been most commonly targeted by thieves every year since it started tracking data during COVID-19.
AKC Reunite President and CEO Tom Sharp says people try to steal them almost twice as frequently as the second-most commonly targeted breed.
"They're small to medium size, so you can actually pick them up and run away with them," Sharp explained, "and they can get thousands of dollars for a cute Frenchy, so it can be quick money for someone with no scruples."
Some of Vega's neighbors have joined the search, with people like John Parker putting Marley and Beyonce's faces all over social media.
"This is someone's life," said Parker. "Two little critters that they love and all they know is they're not home with their family"
The NYPD also tells News 12 it is investigating, in hopes of catching the thief and bringing the dogs home.
"I would say 'I would never leave you out, I would never leave you unseen, and you would always be heard,'" said Vega.
AKC Reunite, which makes microchips for dogs, does recommend every owner get one, since they make it easier to flag stolen animals.
They also recommend owners try to avoid leaving pets unattended whenever possible.
