Elderly man asks his roommate to walk his German shepherd mix – the roommate gives the dog away
As dog owners get older, they might find it harder and harder to walk their pets. This is doubly so in a place such as San Francisco because it has so many hills and crowded streets. In such cases, dog owners usually rely on the kindness of a family member, neighbor, or roommate to walk their dog for them.
One elderly man is learning the hard way that not everyone can be trusted with this simple task.
A man’s dog goes missing
When an 82-year-old San Francisco resident let his roommate take his beloved German shepherd-Labrador mix for a walk, he had no idea that he would never see his dog again. Named Koa, the 4-1/2- year-old dog was taken for a walk by 54-year-old Jeffery McChesney in Golden Gate Park.
Unfortunately, Koa never made it home.
The truth comes out
Police became involved when Koa’s owner filed a report with the San Francisco Police Department. McChesney at first told the 82-year-old that another dog walker had taken Koa from him. Further investigation by police lead them to believe that McChesney had given Kao to a transient.
Finding Koa
Koa does have a microchip. So, if he is found, it should be easy to identify him. Black and brown in coloration, Koa weighs 100 pounds and also has extra toes on his rear paws.
McChesney gave the dog to the woman, who is believed to be homeless, somewhere in the Stow Lake or 19th Avenue area in San Francisco. She is described as petit with buzzed brown hair. McChesney was arrested and charged with dog theft and elder abuse. The investigation is ongoing.
Dog theft in the U.S.
In the U.S. dog theft is a growing problem. Over 2 million dogs are victims of theft each year. The sad part is that only about 10 percent of the owners of these stolen dogs recover their pets, according to Canine Journal. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to protect your dog from theft.
The easiest way to protect your dog is to have them microchipped — just make sure to keep the information on the chip updated, especially if you move. You should also keep proof of ownership on hand in case your dog is found and you need to verify that you own them.
And while tags won’t help you much if someone steals your dog, they can help with their return if they become lost. Instead, be careful who you trust with your dog and keep a watchful eye on them when they are with you.
San Francisco Police Department
Anyone with information on where Koa might be can contact the San Francisco Police Department by phone at (415) 575-4444 or text at TIP411. Make sure to begin the text message with SFPD to ensure that it gets to the correct authorities. Tipsters can remain anonymous if they choose to.
Check out this video with more on what you can do to protect your dog from theft.
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