Stolen Service Dog Maximus Recovered
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Police Department says a stolen service dog has been recovered.
Maximus was reunited with his owner Wednesday.
Police said they got a call Tuesday around 10 a.m. from a Good Samaritan who said she turned in a dog matching Maximus' description to Animal Control. She said she'd found the Shitzu roaming the streets.
Newton Area Detectives -- along with victim -- on Thursday responded to the shelter and the dog was reunited with his owner in good condition.
Authorities believe the dog was stolen around 3 a.m. on March 21 while his owner parked her car in a lot in the 600 block of East Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles.
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The owner reportedly left Maximus in the car as she entered a local eatery.
Maximus works with special needs children who use him as a companion animal. The dog loves children and officials said the canine provided a calming influence on the kids.
Last week, police released a photo of three Latinos they said were suspects in the theft.
The first suspect was described as between 5 feet 7 inches tall to 5 feet 9 inches tall, stocky build, with close cropped hair with a widow's peak and a mustache. He was wearing an over-sized black shirt with script logo on the front and back, with what appears to be the state of California icon, along with baggy grey Dickies cut below the knee, white knee high socks and white tennis shoes.
The second suspect was described as between 5 feet and 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, stocky build, shaved head, and was wearing an over-sized blue checked shirt with white stripes, baggy black pants and black tennis shoes. He also has a mustache.
The third suspect was described as between 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, slim build with comb-over hair and close cropped sideburns. He was wearing a black or dark blue polo short sleeved t-shirt, grey pants and white tennis shoes. This suspect has a neatly trimmed goatee.
Suspects fked in a white vehicle described as a newer four-door sedan, possibly a 2008 to 2012 Chevy Malibu.
