Bronx Barber's Dog Stolen While Sitting Outside Shop, Police Offering Reward For Her Return
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Bronx man who tied his dog to a tree right outside his workplace was left horrified to find his beloved pet taken moments later.
"I just want my dog back that's it," Jonathan Rosario said.
Rosario told CBS2 he's heartsick his beloved Selena was taken.
"That's like my child."
He said because long shifts as a barber meant leaving the two-year-old pit bull-husky mix lonely at home.
He thought it best to tie her to a nearby tree with food and water and check on her between clients at his Bronx shop.
He says July 28 was his first time doing this and it backfired.
Video shared by NYPD, a man is seen walking away with Selena along Park Avenue in the Belmont neighborhood.
"I stuck my head out just like this and my heart, my heart dropped when I didn't see her."
The man in the video, who is described as a person of interest, may have thought Selena was abandoned there on the hot July day.
People on the block told CBS2's Dave Carlin they heard that suspect ask a few people if the dog belonged to anyone.
"Maybe he thinks he did the right thing," one local resident said.
NYPD Crimestoppers is offering a $2,500 reward for Selena's return.
Her owner hopes the reward money helps him get the dog back and he's throwing in some extra incentives.
"I'll give you a free haircut, a free facial, I'll do your eyebrows for a whole week straight on top of the $2,500," Rosario said.
CBS2 checked nearby animal rescues which turned up nothing. At one location, the staff even checked the citywide database, but no luck.
One unique thing about Selena is that one of her eyes is blue and the other is brown.
Rosario says if he can just get her back, he promises he will never put her in that kind of danger again.
Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782. Tips can also be sent to the NYPDTips Twitter account or submitted online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.
