Stolen puppy found, returned to Northeast DC family

WASHINGTON - A 6-year-old D.C. boy's puppy has been found after she was stolen from his family's home along with his mother's SUV.

Ever since Bella, a 4-month-old pitbull puppy, joined Rahim Boyd's family in April, the young boy and his pup have been inseparable.

"I was the one who picked her out," Rahim said. "She was brown and white."

Boyd's mother said it has been Rahim's responsibility to take care of Bella and the young boy wouldn't have it any other way.

"She likes when I feed her and she likes when I take her for walks," said Rahim.

But when Rahim's older brother woke up Thursday morning, he noticed Bella was missing.

"He knocked on my door," said Rahim's mother, Latiesha Boyd. "He was like, 'Mom, the dog's gone. Bella is gone.' I'm like, 'What do you mean Bella is gone?'"

The Boyd family began searching the neighborhood and realized their 2016 dark gray Toyota 4Runner with DC tags FD-7799 was gone too. Latiesha believes someone came into their home early Thursday morning, grabbed Bella and the keys and took off in their SUV parked nearby in the 1100 block of West Virginia Avenue in Northeast D.C.

"I'm not so much worried about the car, but the dog has become a part of us for the last four months," said Latiesha.

Late Thursday night, a man who identified himself as Mr. Davis brought Bella back to Rahim and his brother at the Boyds' home. Davis said he found out that Bella was missing while he was watching FOX 5.

He did not disclose how he found Bella except he located her Thursday morning. However, he was adamant that he was not involved in taking the dog.

"I'm happy. I'm grateful that they brought her back," said Latiesha Boyd. "She's a part of us. She's a part of the family now."

Rahim's mother believes someone who is familiar with their SUV and their dog is responsible for the theft.

D.C. police are asking anyone who might have seen anything or have any information about the stolen SUV to contact them at 202-727-9099 or by texting the police department's text tip line at 50411.