Hunt On For Scottie Dog Stolen During Bay Area Car Theft

BAY AREA, CA – Police are seeking the public's help in locating a dog that was stolen during a vehicle theft in San Leandro last month, police said Wednesday.

At 7:45 p.m. on April 22, officers responded to the Marina Square shopping center at 1275 Marina Blvd. on a report of a stolen vehicle. Inside the stolen vehicle was the victim's pet dog, a 14-year-old terrier named
Koda, police said.

The victim told police that he parked his green 1994 Honda Accord in the parking lot of the shopping center. When he returned 45 minutes later, he discovered that his vehicle had been stolen along with the dog.

According to police, video surveillance footage from the shopping center shows the suspect arriving in a 1994 to 2001 white, two-door Acura Integra, then entering the victim's vehicle and fleeing the area.

Police have been searching for the stolen vehicle and dog. The owner has issued a $500 reward for the safe return of the dog, which needs daily medication, police said.

Koda is described as a black Scottish Terrier with medium-length hair that weighs 19 pounds.

The owner said he has received unconfirmed sightings of Koda in the Richmond and El Cerrito areas.

Anyone with information about the case or Koda's whereabouts is asked to contact San Leandro police at (510) 577-3230. Anonymous tips can be called to a tip line at (510) 577-3278.

• AND FROM LAST WEEK IN CASTRO VALLEY, MURFEE IS MISSING:

Authorities are seeking help in finding a German Shepherd rescue mentor dog who was stolen from his owner's home in Castro Valley in unincorporated Alameda County on Sunday, April 30.

Murfee, a 3-year-old black and tan German Shepherd, was stolen from his yard near Palomares Road in Castro Valley between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. on April 30, authorities said. Murfee weighs about 80 pounds and is tall and lean and was last seen wearing a lime green collar with ID tags, according to authorities. He is micro-chipped and neutered.

Authorities said Murfee has helped to mentor hundreds of rescued German Shepherd Dogs to help them learn proper social skills before they moved on to their homes. Murfee helps teach rescued German Shepherds and Belgian Shepherds, many of whom are very under-socialized, how to get along nicely with other dogs and what proper dog-to-dog etiquette is, authorities said.

It's important that dogs learn those skills before moving into their new homes, dog experts said.

Authorities said Murfee's owner, JJ Jacobson, has worked with German Shepherd Rescue since 2002 and has taken in as many as 3,500 German Shepherds to be fostered and successfully placed in new homes.

Murfee was taken into police protective custody after he was being thrown against a wall during a domestic violence disturbance, authorities said.

Because Murfee was so young, animal control officials reached out to Jacobson to care for him while the case went through the court process. A few months later, the suspect gave up all rights to the puppy, and Jacobson adopted Murfee.

Authorities are trying to raise a $10,000 for a reward for Murfee's safe return. GoFundMe

Murfee also has his own Facebook page, called Find Murfee.

• ALSO SEE: Driver Hits Parked Cars 2 Days After Slamming Into North Bay Pet Store

--Bay City News/Images via SLPD, GoFundMe, Find Murfee on Facebook