A Van Nuys family’s support dog, Chiquita, a 3½-pound honey-colored Chihuahua, was stolen from a Calabasas dog park just before noon on Monday, leaving two dogs and three people shaken. Dog belonging to special needs child gets stolen

The family’s appeal is urgent because Chiquita serves as a support animal for the family’s child. “She’s my daughter’s special-needs dog. She helps her with her anxiety and panic attacks,” said Tiffany Stewart, the child’s mother. What role do support dogs play in the lives of children with special needs?

According to the family’s account, dog walker Victor Wallace was managing multiple animals when Chiquita slipped through the park’s gates. Wallace said he noticed two men coming down from a nearby hiking trail and saw them interacting with the tiny dog. “I can’t even believe that it happened — nobody ever expects something like that to happen,” he said. In urban areas like Los Angeles, pet theft has become a concern, with law enforcement and animal advocates warning about risks to unattended pets.

Chiquita was taken while at the off-leash area of the Calabasas dog park, the family said. The pair of family dogs includes Chiquita, who was stolen, and Mamacita, who was not taken. The family described Mamacita as having never been separated from Chiquita and said the loss has been especially hard on her.

Stewart pleaded for the dog’s return. “Just bring her back — that’s my daughter’s support animal — she needs her,” she said. The family has suggested that better security measures at dog parks, such as taller, secure perimeter fencing and double-gated entry systems, might help prevent similar incidents in the future.

The family is asking anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is investigating the theft. The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department could not confirm details of the investigation, according to local reporting by FOX 11 Los Angeles, which first reported the incident.

Wallace described the moment Chiquita slipped through the gate while he was handling other dogs and the sighting of two men descending from a hiking trail as the only immediate clues the family has to the dogs’ takers. The family has circulated photos and descriptions of Chiquita to neighbors and social channels as they search the area.

The theft occurred in broad daylight at a public park, underscoring the family’s urgency and the role Chiquita plays in daily life at home. Community members in and around Calabasas have shared the family’s appeals, and the family continues to press for information that could lead to Chiquita’s return.

Anyone with tips or sightings has been asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to assist the investigation. Foxla also published a video account of the incident that includes on-scene details and interviews with the family and dog walker: Foxla.

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Original reporting: view the original article.