Traffic & Transit

Service Dog Takes Surprise Ride In Stolen Car: Bloomfield Police

A car was stolen in Bloomfield with a 12-year-old fox terrier inside, police said.

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A service dog who took an unexpected ride in a stolen car on Monday has been found, and he’s safe, Bloomfield authorities say.

The Bloomfield Division of Public Safety made a social media announcement about the vehicle theft, which took place on Franklin Street near Weaver Avenue. A 12-year-old fox terrier was inside the car, a red Subaru with New York tags: JGH8106.

The service dog was wearing a blue harness with a rabies tag attached, police said.

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Bloomfield police issued an update about the situation, noting that the pooch "has been located and is safe."

The search and update was shared on social media by several local animal shelters and animal welfare activists, including the Bloomfield Animal Shelter.

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Bloomfield public safety officials posted an update about the incident on Tuesday:

"Last night, a car was stolen from the Stop & Shop parking lot with a 12-year-old service dog inside the vehicle. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the Bloomfield police, Newark police, the Associated Humane Society in Newark, and all agencies that assisted including everyone that shared our post, not only was the vehicle recovered but 'Fritz,' the dog was safely located, transported to AHS and reunited with their extremely grateful owners."

"We cannot stress enough the importance of locking your car doors, never leave a vehicle running while unattended and always take your valuables with you!" authorities emphasized.

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