Harlem commuter McKina Artis says her 11-year-old Shih Tzu, Lady, disappeared in a matter of seconds from a stroller at the 125th Street 4/5/6 subway station last Monday, and she has been pleading for the dog's safe return ever since. Police say they have a man in custody in connection with the theft, but Lady is still missing, and the family is growing increasingly anxious because the small dog needs regular medication. Artis and her daughter have blanketed nearby blocks with flyers and pushed out videos online, asking New Yorkers to help bring Lady home.
The theft unfolded as Artis was exiting the 4 train and walking up the stairs when a small cup fell from the stroller. She turned to pick it up and, by the time she looked back, the dog was gone. A security guard reportedly saw a man reach into the stroller, grab Lady and run down the station steps, according to WABC.
NYPD arrest and possible sighting
The NYPD says officers have arrested 33-year-old Ali Tarawally and charged him with petty larceny, but the dog herself has not been recovered. Detectives told the family there was a possible sighting near President Street in Brooklyn, according to New York Daily News. Tarawally is due back in court on Aug. 11, according to CBS New York.
Owner's plea and surveillance video
Artis has begged whoever has Lady to bring her back, stressing that the dog has a heart condition and needs medication, and the family is offering a $500 reward for her safe return, New York Daily News reported. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows a man reaching into the stroller, taking Lady and, according to the Daily News, boarding a Brooklyn-bound 5 train and getting off near President Street in Crown Heights.
How to help
Anyone who has information or thinks they spot the dog is urged to call the NYPD. The family has also been circulating flyers and a viral TikTok to widen the search, as reported by CBS New York. Neighbors and volunteers say that checking local shelters and veterinary clinics can be crucial, since unchipped dogs are often dropped off by people who find them.
Pet-safety reminder
Experts say that microchips and up-to-date ID tags significantly improve the odds that a lost pet will make it back home, since shelters and veterinary clinics routinely scan found animals for chips. For more on how microchips work and why keeping registration current matters, see AKC.
