FOUND: Stolen dog located in South Seattle; 'Shade' returned to very grateful owners

Dog stolen from inside truck, owners plea for safe return

A local couple is asking for the safe return of their beloved dog, stolen on Sunday in North Seattle.

SEATTLE - Ranjiv Jain and Gita Gandhi just sent this message. "SHADE IS HOME! Thank you so much for everything, we are so overwhelmed and overjoyed to be reunited!"

The details are still murky but somebody was trying to sell him along with other dogs at a gas station in South Seattle. A Good Samaritan thought something was wrong, grabbed Shade and then called Jain and Gandhi. They contacted police and arranged to meet. They say Shade is hungry and scared but otherwise very happy to be home.

Shade at home after being rescued in South Seattle.

are devastated. Their 10 and a 1/2-month old Staffordshire bull terrier was stolen last Sunday.

"These past few days of him being gone are just the worst nightmare I’ve ever gone through," said Gandhi.

Surveillance video shows the thief casing Jain's business on N. 143rd St for two hours. The suspect was in a custom painted older model blue Honda CR-V with a paper license plate from Lee Johnson Chevrolet.

He watched as Jain took Shade for a walk to let him go to the bathroom before putting him in his truck while he locked up. Jain was gone only a minute but during that time, the suspect creeped-up the truck, opened the door, and stole Shade.

"My dog’s struggling with him, not fighting, but he doesn’t want to go. He doesn’t know him," said Jain.

Suspect abducting Shade

Shade is like a son to the couple. " I work from home so he is my constant companion and he is just the sweetest friendliest dog, said Gandhi. "I usually fall asleep around 2 a.m. and I wake up at 2:30 because that’s when he usually crawls into the bed with us and it’s just not fair. I just want to wake up and for Shade to be in our bed with us."

Seattle Police took a report but they say they were told a detective will not be assigned to the case because it is considered a misdemeanor. So, they are offering a $4,000 reward for the return of Shade.