A New Jersey couple has been searching frantically for their dog since it went missing in downtown Newark, and it may be part of a growing trend in dog thefts, according to local shelter officials.
Grant Parseghian says he tied up Zuzu, a nearly 2-year-old rescue dachshund-chihuahua mix, on a downtown Newark strip as he dashed into a store Tuesday.
"I tied her up outside the bank, I was in there for no more than five minutes. I came back out and she was gone," he said.
Witnesses told him they saw a woman walking away with the dog.
Jackie Giuffre said, "We always tie her up, and we just didn't think that anything would have happened."
According to the American Kennel Club, it does appear to be happening more and more. The registry says it's been tracking news and customer reports of dog thefts, and saw a 31 percent increase in cases in 2013 over 2012.
Scott Crawford, the assistant director at Associated Humane Societies, the largest animal shelter in Newark, says smaller dogs and purebreeds are more vulnerable to dognapping.
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"They're looking for resale value," he said of dognappers. "In my mind, a lot of it comes back to the economy. Inner city areas like this, you're always looking for a way to make money."
Parseghian and Giuffre have been checking with local shelters, but have found no sign of Zuzu.
"I hope that a shelter has found her or that she's just safe," said Giuffre.
The dog does have a microchip, which significantly helps the couple's chances of finding it. The chip costs as little as $10, and directly links the animal to the owners in the event that it's brought back to the shelter.
They have also field a police report.
"We just desperately want her back," said Giuffre.
