Therapy dog disappears from Detroit home while owner on surprise trip; dogsitters say he was stolen

A woman and Detroit police are both looking for a therapy dog that may have been stolen.

Laurice Washington was on a surprise trip to the Bahamas when her Shih Tzu, Bailey, disappeared.

"I had two open-heart surgeries, I had breast cancer. I have some other conditions I'm struggling with," she said. "For me to come back and they told me that my dog is gone.

Washington left Bailey with friends at a home in the 18200 block of San Juan, which is near Livernois and Curtis. Around 7 p.m. June 17, her beloved pet disappeared. 

The people watching Bailey first said he was stolen, then they changed the story and said he was let out and got lost.

"I just expected that they would be more responsible," Washington said.

Bailey is microchipped. He was last seen wearing a blue harness, and one paw pad on his left paw is pink, while the rest are black.

Washington said there is a $500 reward for Bailey's return.

"I'm begging you. That's my little guy, that's my son, that's my life," she said. "He's my everything. He's always with me. He just makes me feel so good."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 313-596-1240 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.