March 11, 2008

SECAUCUS, N.J. − A warning is being issued by the owners of a show dog that was stolen after being left alone for just an instant. The owner said their dog is so big, and was stolen so fast, that if it can happen to them, it can happen to anyone.

Pounder is a 175-pound English Mastiff. Stealing a dog as mammoth as her is a tall order, but on Saturday, March 1, the 14-month-old dog was indeed swiped. The loving show dog was en route to a competition in Secaucus, N.J., when she was left in her owner’s sport utility vehicle for a few moments. While the owner stopped inside a hotel to use the restroom, her vehicle was broken into and Pounder was dognapped.

Then someone broke in and poached the prized pooch.

"I was devastated," said owner Sharon Costello. "Your first emotion is 'Oh my God'. The dog struggled; you could see that the dog struggled. They tore her out of the crate − they drug her out."

Pulling a large dog out of the back of Costello's vehicle apparently went unnoticed. Authorities were contacted soon after, but the loss had already begun to take its toll on the couple.

"My emotions were − I broke down in front of the whole place and I started crying − that was it," said Charlie Costello.

Pounder’s owners, Charlie and Sharon Costello, offered a reward for their pet’s return, no questions asked. Meanwhile, concerns of what was happening to Pounder plagued the couple's thoughts.

"Are they going to take her to a pit bull ring are they going to sell her to a medical lab for some kind of experimentation," said Sharon Costello.

Three days later, an anonymous couple called saying they saw Pounder loose on a highway in the city of Newark, and took her home to Pennsylvania. They said they learned of Pounder’s abduction from the media, and turned her over to the Costello’s on Tuesday, safe and sound.

"As soon as she got out of the crate, she started kissing me and licking me like she always does," said Charlie Costello.

But despite her ordeal, Pounder remains as sweet as she is huge.

"You never give up hoping and you never stop,” said Sharon Costello. “You never ever stop having faith that what you ask for will come to pass.

“I would suggest that (you) don't ever leave any of your dogs in your cars, because obviously you get targeted, and show dogs get targeted, and obviously this one did and she got stolen,” she said.

Police are still investigating the matter, and as of yet, no reward money has been handed out. Questions remain about the couple who allegedly found the dog. The police could be questioning them in coming weeks.

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