A New York City veteran's trip to the grocery store Sunday afternoon has turned into a desperate search to find his accompanying service dog, snatched outside the supermarket in a matter of seconds.
John Nevarez, a Vietnam War veteran, went to pick up dog food for his Shih Tzu named Chulo at the Associated supermarket on Third Avenue in Morrisania, and he tied the dog's leash outside the store, he told NBC 4 New York.
After Nevarez went inside, surveillance video shows a man in a gray t-shirt and shorts grabbing the leash and calmly walking away with the dog.
"Two, three minutes -- and you'll see it on the tape -- I went in, tied him up, got some dog food, hit the counter and I was out," said Nevarez. "When I looked, I said, 'Where is he?' The guy must have been crossing the street in that direction."
Nevarez, a former U.S. Navy Seabee, is diabetic and Chulo is trained to save his life.
"When he sees me feel bad and he starts barking, that means I need to take my insulin shot," he said.
"I just want my dog back. I can't sleep without him, and I don't feel good," said Nevarez.
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"I'll spare it all just to get my dog back. That's all I want."
Nevarez said whoever took Chulo can bring him back to the grocery store. Inthe meantime, missing posters are hanging up in the area. Anyone who recognizes the man in the surveillance video is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
