In a turn of events that wraps a lengthy ordeal, Rags, a deaf Old English Sheepdog originally snatched from his Alabama home, has been safely located in Arizona. According to Arizona's Family, the stolen pup was recovered in Maricopa the day after Christmas, concluding a year-long absence that attracted social media campaigns and legal disputes.
Rags went missing on December 13, 2023, while his owner, Olivia Gardner, was absent, attending a Christmas parade. Amidst the dog's disappearance, there was a conspicuous custody battle involving Rags' original owners and Gardner. The saga culminated in a reunion in Arizona where Gardner, overjoyed at the prospect of bringing Rags home, expressed her disbelief and gratitude. "I just couldn’t be happier. I can’t wait to get him home to see his brothers and for him to see his dad and my family. It just doesn’t feel real just so grateful," Gardner told Arizona's Family after flying into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
The Maricopa Police Department played a pivotal role in the dog's recovery, acting on a tip from the Silverhill Police Department in southern Alabama that suggested Rags might be within their jurisdiction. Sgt. Chase Jordan of the Maricopa Police stated, "The Silverhill Police Department reached out to us because they got an anonymous tip regarding Rags being in our jurisdiction, and we just started digging from there." Surveillance cameras captured the moment of the apparent dognapping in December 2023, showing a masked individual making away with Rags, as reported by Arizona's Family.
Legal complexities surrounding Rags's ownership intensified as the original owners proceeded to put him up for adoption, only to file a suit months later in an effort to regain custody. The people found with Rags in Arizona have been confirmed to be connected to the original owners in Alabama. Maricopa police validated Rags's identity through photo comparison and microchip verification, as reported by AL.com.
