ESA Weekly News Report, Nov. 7th: Dognapper Steals Service Dog From Owner’s Front Yard

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  • ESA Weekly News Report, Nov. 7th: Dognapper Steals Service Dog From Owner’s Front Yard

By: katelyn Updated: November 7, 2022

November’s on with a bang, and we’re here with the latest in the Emotional Support and Service Animals community. This week we bring you two stories involving disturbing instances of dognapping. This worrisome trend is picking up speed all over the country, which is why raising awareness is key.

Dognapper Caught On Camera Stealing Long Beach Resident’s Service Dog From Home

Earlier this week, a dognapper stole a Service Animal from the front yard of the owner’s house. The Service Dog, Jack, helped Lisa Hartouni overcome her mobility concerns. Lisa has to use a cane to move around. 

The incident occurred on Nov. 1st at 3 p.m. Ms. Hartouni had just returned from a short walk with Jack and entered the house to get some treats. When Lisa returned to her front yard, her Service Dog was nowhere in sight. 

Luckily, her neighbor’s Ring doorbell recorded the dognappers in the act. The footage reveals two men dressed in black walking up to Ms. Hartouni’s yard and forcing Jack into a white sedan. The surveillance also revealed that Jack did try to get away from the individuals but was overpowered.

Ms. Hartouni suspects the dognappers had been watching her over the course of weeks. She also recounts being approached by a man on one of her walks. The stranger insisted that Jack belonged to his friend and got angry at her denial. Ms. Hartouni and her friends have initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds as a reward for Jack’s return. 

Source: FoxLA

A Man In Assisted Living Lost His Emotional Support Animal At A Supermarket

Reuben Ray’s doctor recommended an Emotional Support Animal to help him cope with the emotional and physical distress of living with kidney concerns. Ray, a Grand Rapids resident, had already suffered two strokes and was awaiting a kidney transplant when he got D-O-G (O-G for short).

O-G is a bright-eyed little Chihuahua who helped raise Ray’s spirits and get him through dialysis sessions and other changes Ray was trying to overcome. 

There’s rarely a time when Ray and O-G aren’t together. That’s how Ray ended up leaving O-G in his car while he went inside a supermarket on Oct. 23rd. Ray left his vehicle unlocked, and the windows cracked open a little to provide O-G with adequate ventilation. When he returned from the supermarket, the car sat empty. 

Thus far, Ray has contacted pet finders and shelters, but there’s been no news of O-G yet. He’s also turned to social media and posted his canine’s pictures on Facebook, where the post is receiving countless shares. O-G is a six-year-old Chi with a grey spot on his nose. The dog weighs about six pounds and has a black collar. 

Ray is reaching out to the Grand Rapids community to help him get his ESA back. If anyone has any information regarding O-G, they can reach Ray at 616.490.6838.

Source: WoodTV

CertaPet’s Thoughts on This Week’s News

We hope all our readers are now forewarned about the alarming increase in dognapping cases across the U.S. If you haven’t already, now’s the perfect time to have your pets microchipped and register with a national pet recovery database. Avoid leaving your Emotional Support and Service Animals unattended, be it right outside your house or any other location. Remember, precaution is better than cure. 

If you’re living with a mental illness, getting an Emotional Support Animal could really help your recovery. These loving animals could ease your symptoms and help you live a happier, fuller life. If you’re ready to start the process, take our 5-minute pre-screening test for free. We’ll connect you with a licensed mental health professional, who will have a consultation with you. Then, if you qualify, you’ll get your ESA letter in no time.


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