‘This is a part of our family’: Tacoma woman’s search for missing dog in stolen car
Two dogs were in a Tacoma woman’s car when it was stolen from a Target parking lot. One dog has been found, one is still missing.
TACOMA, Wash. – A Tacoma woman appeals to the public to help find her missing dog that was in her car when it was stolen.
Nicole D’Amico’s car was stolen from the Target parking lot Sunday afternoon with her two dogs Koji and Coconut inside.
“I don’t really care about the car or anything in it. We just want the dog back,” D’Amico said.
Koji, a 10-year-old red Shiba Inu, has remained missing since Nicole’s burgundy Kia was stolen from Target on South 23rd Street in Tacoma. By Sunday night, Coconut was reunited after the vet’s office called and said a passerby had found her running near River Road.
“She was bloody, I don’t know if they hit her, if they threw her out of the moving vehicle. She’s been patched up, she’s still in a lot of pain but I think she’ll be fine. I think she’s really traumatized by what happened,” D’Amico said.
The search for Koji is relentless. Nicole and her sister drove around, posting flyers and learning tips. Those tips led them to ask everyone in Tacoma and Federal Way to pay attention.
“I can’t sleep for two days now, I cry continuously all day. This is part of our family, we’ve had him for 10 years now. He’s our son,” D’Amico said.
It all started when Nicole ran into Target to pick up a few things and leave the dogs in the car. She put her keys in the cart and didn’t realize they were still there when she went to the bathroom. She said surveillance revealed a man was right behind her and stole the keys from the trolley.
Nicole said he went out with the keys and found her car, then stopped in front of the store and picked up another man. She’s trying to get video footage and pictures of the suspects.
“I really didn’t think something like this could happen. I think I was really naive and I think I learned a valuable lesson. Hopefully Koji doesn’t have to pay for that lesson,” D’Amico said.
Now, they are praying for Koji’s safe return.
“He is a super sweet dog if you see him running around. He won’t bite you. He might be scared or cold and tired,” says D’Amico.
There’s a $2,000 bonus for Koji’s return, no questions asked. He is microchipped and can be taken to a shelter or veterinarian’s office. If you have any information, call 206-724-7236.
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/tacoma/tacoma-woman-searching-missing-dog-stolen-car/281-710ae1e8-58c9-495c-b327-8df537d2ea5c ‘This is a part of our family’: Tacoma woman’s search for missing dog in stolen car
