NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A dog named Milkshake was stolen in a dognapping in the Bronx this month, the NYPD said Wednesday as they released video of two suspects who've allegedly been taunting the dog's owner for weeks by prank calling her and barking into the phone.
The 10-year-old female dachshund was stolen more than three weeks ago on the evening of May 4 in the Longwood section.
According to police, the two suspects entered an apartment building at 975 Tiffany St. and fled with Milkshake.
Video released by the NYPD shows the alleged dognappers walking into the building around 8 p.m. and then leaving through the same door with the dog.
Milkshake's owner, Luz Montanez, told 1010 WINS on Tuesday that it's her first time seeing the video and that she recognizes the duo in the footage. She said was holding a birthday party at the time and the door was open, leading to the dog going out in the hallway.
"I've had my dog since she was three weeks old, I bottle-fed this baby," Montanez said. "This is not just a pet, she's my service animal, she's my emotional support dog. She is more than a dog, she's family. She's my best friend."
Montanez said the nightmare situation has been made all the worse because the dognappers have been prank calling her nearly every day—even on Mother's Day—barking into the phone and taunting her family.
"It's very upsetting, especially when they're doing mocking sounds, like they'll make barking sounds in the back. They know who I am. They know my name. They know my dog's name. So it's just evil. It's very, very, very mean."
"What I don't understand is why would you not just bring her back," Montanez said. "She's tagged. She has my phone number. You've been calling me harassing me, why not just bring the dog back? I don't understand the purpose in taking her. You know she belongs to someone."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
