A Houston family is desperately searching for their French bulldog, Nova, after an armed passenger allegedly grabbed the dog during a morning walk last Friday and sped off. Two teens were walking Nova and a second Frenchie when the robbery unfolded, leaving them badly shaken. The family says several special-needs children in the home relied on Nova as a companion animal, which has only heightened the sense of loss.
According to FOX 26 Houston, the theft happened near the teens' home at Woodlyn at Denton when a white vehicle pulled up. An armed passenger reportedly opened a door, pointed a gun and grabbed Nova before the car took off. The teens' mother, Nora Boesem, told the station that Nova had been given to the children as a companion animal, and their father, Kendrick Stewart, recalled his son calling in a panic and saying, "they just took Nova." Houston police are investigating, and anyone with information is urged to contact HPD or Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.
National Pattern: French Bulldogs As Targets
French bulldogs have increasingly become high-value targets across the country because they can bring in thousands of dollars on the resale market. Some of those thefts have involved armed robberies similar to Nova's case, The Washington Post reports. That broader trend helps explain why families and detectives often treat these cases as both serious property crimes and public-safety threats.
Houston Past Cases and Police Advice
Houston media have previously covered bold Frenchie thefts, including a 2021 Clear Lake robbery in which a breeder said armed men grabbed several dogs during a meeting. Coverage of that case included Houston Police Department safety tips for anyone arranging pet transactions. As ABC13 noted, police advise meeting buyers or sellers in well lit public locations, steering clear of nighttime meetups or private homes, and using police station parking lots when possible.
How To Help
Nova's family is asking neighbors to check any doorbell or car-camera footage from around the time of the robbery and to share anything that might help track down the dog. Anyone with tips is asked to contact the Houston Police Department or reach out to Crime Stoppers at (713) 222-TIPS.
