FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A South Florida woman who feared she had lost her puppy forever is now celebrating a happy ending after the dog was safely recovered and returned to her following a car theft in Fort Lauderdale.
What began as a desperate search ended in an emotional reunion at the Emerald Hills Animal Hospital, where 6-month-old poodle Coco greeted her owner with hugs and puppy kisses after being found safe on Tuesday.
“Coco! Oh sweet girl,” Carol Kalagher said, clapping as she reunited with her dog.
Kalagher had been visiting a friend Monday afternoon when police said her Bentley was stolen shortly after she parked near the 2700 block of Northeast 19th Street.
Surveillance video shows a dark-colored sedan pull alongside the vehicle before a person wearing dark clothing and white pants ran to the car and drove off.
Kalagher said Coco was inside the vehicle at the time of the theft. Authorities later determined the puppy was thrown from the car during the incident and was taken in by a neighbor, who brought her to a veterinarian.
“I can’t wait to get her home,” Kalagher recalled saying earlier, before the reunion took place.
Veterinarians said Coco remained in good health and spirits while waiting to be returned, even playing and interacting with staff at the facility.
Kalagher said she and her family feared the worst in the immediate aftermath of the theft, but held onto hope.
“We think the worst and we don’t keep the hope going,” she said. “My husband kept saying, it’ll play out, it’ll play out, it played out well, look at this.”
Kalagher said once Coco is back home, she plans to keep her close.
“I’m just not going to put her down for a while, I’m just going to hold her,” she said.
Authorities said the suspects remain at large, and the stolen vehicle has not yet been recovered.
Authorities have not announced any arrests. Anyone with information is urged to contact Fort Lauderdale police or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
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