MARICOPA, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – A beloved, deaf Old English Sheepdog named Rags was found in Arizona more than a year after he was stolen from his home in Alabama.
Ring surveillance video from Dec. 8, 2023, shows a masked man going up to a house in the small town of Silverhill, Alabama, opening the front door and walking off with Rags.
The dog’s owner, Olivia Gardner, never thought she’d see Rags again.
“I will never forget coming home the night he was taken and finding his stuffed piggie on the floor next to the door,” Gardner said.
She set up a GoFundMe page to offer a $5,000 reward to help get her dog back, but nothing turned up.
Then, on Thursday, she got a call from police in Arizona – Rags had been found alive and well.
“I couldn’t begin to describe the emotions I felt,” Gardner said. “There were tears of joy, worry, happiness and sadness that it’s been this long of a journey. Definitely not knowing where he is and if he’s safe has been the hardest part. I can’t even begin to put into words how excited we are to get him home and love on him again.”
The Silverhill Police Department in Alabama got a tip that Rags was in Arizona, so they contacted the Maricopa Police Department in Arizona to investigate.
On Thursday, officers went to a home in Maricopa and found Rags.
Maricopa Police Sgt. Chance Jordan said the people inside the home were not very cooperative.
“They provided us a different name for the dog, wearing a collar with a third name on it, so it wasn’t until we were able to verify that microchip number with the serial number from the original paperwork from Alabama PD, that’s what definitely told us this is Rags,” he said.
Shortly after Rags disappeared last year, there were reports of a custody battle involving the special needs sheepdog, who is deaf.
Rags’ original owners before Gardner 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 dog napping is under investigation.
“It’s a good question that I hope one day I can get an answer for,” Gardner said. “Maybe I won’t, but all I know is that Rags is very missed by his family here, and we are ready to get him home.”
Gardner is expected to fly to Arizona in the next couple of days to bring Rags home.
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