Stolen dog kidnapped by 17-time felon found safe by Tacoma Police after missing for months

Buddy, a beloved pet dog who was stolen by a 17-time convicted felon, was found by the Tacoma Police Department (TPD).

Buddy, a three-year-old “micro bully dog,” escaped his family’s yard this past summer. A neighbor reported seeing Buddy run down the street and caught him. Another neighbor, named Jose Haughton, said he would return Buddy to his family.

Video evidence from Haughton’s home, a transitional housing facility, showed that the dog was inside the house, but Haughton denied ever having the dog. Another video showed what appeared to be a dog covered in a blanket being taken to a car.

Neighbor charged in connection with stolen dog

The man was arrested for an unrelated crime at the end of August, and was subsequently booked into the King County Jail. The detained suspect was previously convicted of 17 felonies.

Unfortunately for Buddy’s owners, the dog was not found at the suspect’s house during his arrest.

“The owner is heartbroken,” Michelle Barker, the lead investigator on the case, stated. “We don’t know where he left the dog, if he sold it, gave it to someone, we just want to bring this owner’s dog home.”

Buddy remained missing until Nov. 3, when TPD found him.

“Buddy is currently with the Tacoma Police Department, on his way to the humane society to be reunited with his rightful owner,” the Seattle Police Department (SPD) confirmed. “Thank you to everyone who helped find him.”

It is unknown how TPD was able to locate Buddy, or if someone had knowledge of his whereabouts after the SPD released a public message asking about Buddy’s location on Oct. 30.

This is a developing story, check back for updates

Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest

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