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Caught On Camera: WeHo Man's Beloved Pooch Stolen

WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — A West Hollywood man is distraught that someone stole his beloved dog.

The crime was captured on camera.

Amy Johnson, reporting for CBS2, spoke to Joseph Harris about the loss of his 3-year-old Schnoodle (a combination poodle and Schnauzer) George Frederic aka Fred.

Harris left Fred and his 11-year-old dog, Isabel, tied up outside the Whole Foods on Santa Monica Boulevard at Fairfax Monday afternoon.

"I am devastated. That is probably the right word," Joseph Harris said.

"He's just the cutest dog. And everyone that sees him on the street approaches him. Or he approaches them," Harris added.

It was just after 1 p.m. when Harris left both dogs in front of the store.

"I looped their leashes through the handle [of the fence]. And as I always do, I said [to the dogs], 'I'll be right back.'"

When he came out of the store -- a few minutes later -- he saw Isabel where he left her but no sign of Fred.

"I couldn't believe he wasn't here. But I saw that the leash and the harness were gone so I knew he hadn't slipped out. I knew somebody had taken him," Harris said.

Store security video captured the dognapping.

Harris described what happened.

"[The suspect] came down here, sat down on the steps and petted my dog Fred. Saw that he was very friendly. Saw the other dog, much older, who wasn't bothered by him. So, he unleashed Fred and just walked away."

Harris put up posters near the Whole Foods and in every direction for a three-mile radius.

He said he was desperate to get Fred back.

"I'll do anything I can. I'm offering a no-questions-asked reward. I just want my dog back," said Harris.

The LA County Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft.

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