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Yorkie Taken From Elderly Woman’s Porch Is Returned Safe & Sound

Written by: Molly Weinfurter
Molly Weinfurter is a writer for iHeartDogs, and she’s passionate about helping animals in need. She volunteers for Bailing Out Benji and a local dog rescue.Read more
| Published on March 26, 2021

When a dog is lost, every day is a struggle. You can’t help but wonder when they’ll return, if they ever do. 71-year-old Dianne Ramsey was only apart from her beloved Yorkie for four days, but it felt like a lifetime.

Sasha the 15-year-old Yorkie was stolen off Ramsey’s porch in New Orleans. Ramsey, who is a vascular dementia patient, was crushed when she found out. But as it turns out, the “thief” might not have been the villain they thought. In fact, the whole situation was a misunderstanding for both parties.

Senior Yorkie Found
Image: Screenshot, Louisiana SPCA YouTube

A Beloved Dog Missing

Sasha is Ramsey’s best friend. The pup is always by her mom’s side and is perfect at comforting her. They spend most of their time sitting on the porch together.

“She stays under my foot,” said Ramsey. “She follows me, we follow each other.”

Ramsey’s daughter, Letreion Clements, let Sasha outside to use the bathroom one day. But that’s when everything changed. Sasha normally stays in the yard, does her business, and paws at the door to come back in. So, when Sasha never scratched at the door, Clements went outside to get her. That’s when she realized that the tiny dog was gone.

Woman taking Yorkie from porch
Image: Screenshot, wwltv.com

When the family checked the doorbell’s security footage, they discovered something alarming. A woman approached the porch with treats to lure the dog. She appeared to ring the doorbell, but no one answered. Then, she carried Sasha to her car and drove away. Ramsey was so heartbroken she refused to sit on the porch without her best friend.

Clements contacted authorities and spread “lost dog” posters around in hopes of bringing Sasha home. But the pup was even closer than they thought.

It’s Not Always What it Seems

The same day Sasha was stolen, she arrived at the Louisiana SPCA. Apparently, the woman in the footage saw Sasha, thought she was a stray, and brought her to the shelter. The woman said she saw Sasha shivering on the porch, so she was concerned about her. Sasha didn’t have any identification tags on, but four days later, shelter staff saw one of the missing dog flyers.

Shelter staff holding Yorkie
Image: Screenshot, Louisiana SPCA YouTube

Ramsey and Clements were overjoyed when they were notified. After hearing the whole story, they were no longer upset at the person who took her.

“Maybe she was concerned and just wanted to find out where Sasha belonged,” said Clements.

During her stay at the SPCA, Sasha got a full vet check-up. They discovered that both her ears were infected, so they cleaned them and treated them for free. They also gave Sasha a microchip and identification tag so she would never get lost again.

Stolen Yorkie Reunited with mom
Image: Screenshot, Louisiana SPCA YouTube

Together at Last!

Both Sasha and her mom were overjoyed to be reunited again. The scruffy Yorkie showered her mom with plenty of cuddles and kisses to make up for lost time. And Ramsey had the biggest smile in the world.

Before Ramsey went home, the shelter staff reminded her that Louisiana has leash laws for any dogs outside. So, to make things easier for her, they gave her a portable gate that she can use on her porch to keep Sasha confined. Clements and Ramsey both vowed that they would keep a closer eye on the pup at all times.

Not everyone is a dog thief. Some people just want to do what’s best for a dog’s well-being. In this case, everything was just a huge misunderstanding for all the dog lovers involved. Hopefully, Sasha’s family learned a valuable lesson about keeping their furry friend safe.

H/T: wwltv.com
Featured Image: Screenshot, Louisiana SPCA YouTube

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