U.S. Marine Thinks His Dog Was Stolen At Middletown's Ideal Beach

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — As if 2020 could possibly get any worse, this New Jersey Marine Corps veteran had his pure-bred Belgian Malinois puppy either stolen or it ran away last Sunday, Aug. 9 at Ideal Beach in Middletown — and he strongly suspects it was the former.

Jrluis Ruiz, 24, is desperate to get his dog back, or for anyone who lives in the North Middletown, Keansburg and Ideal Beach area to call him, if they know anything — anything at all. He's been knocking on doors in the neighborhood and even sleeping in his truck overnight at Ideal Beach, in hopes that Apollo will come back to him.

So far, it's all been in vain.

The puppy went missing Aug. 9 and as of Tuesday, Apollo has not been found.

"I one hundred percent believe he was stolen," Ruiz told Patch, adding that he's "an emotional wreck" right now. "He is not one to run away."

It all started at about 7:45 p.m. Aug. 9, a Sunday evening, as Ruiz and his family and friends were packing up to leave Ideal Beach for the day.

"It had been an awesome day. I live in Dover, in Morris County, and we actually chose to go to Ideal because it's a dog-friendly beach," Ruiz told Patch. "It was honestly just a really good day. Apollo and I woke up; we went for a hike in the morning, then I went to the driving range and then we went to the beach. Everyone at the beach was just infatuated by Apollo, petting him, talking to him."

"It was about 7:30, 7:45 and we were packing up to leave because the beach closes at 8 p.m.," he said. "Apollo and my cousin's dog were in the back (the indoor second row) of my pick-up truck. My cousin and I walked to his car to get Powerades for the hour-drive back. I was away from my car and the dog for probably three minutes max. When I came back, he was gone."

Ruiz said he had put the puppy in the back row of the truck, inside the cab. But witnesses in the area said they saw him sitting on the front passenger seat, by the open window. Ruiz thinks the dog crawled up to the front — and that's when someone snatched him.

"First, he wouldn't have jumped out. It's a high fall and I would have heard him bark or yelp," said the veteran. "Second, he's off-leash trained. He's trained to stay by me. So even if he jumped, which he didn't, he would have come to me. I've taken him on miles and miles of hiking in the deep woods; he is always right by my feet. That's where he has been trained to stay."

"There were a lot of people and commotion around; it would have been easy for anyone to see that little window and exploit it," said the soldier. "He's extremely well tempered and well socialized."

Heartbreakingly, Ruiz has only had Apollo for about a month and a half. He was given the expensive dog in July, as a gift by a fellow member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Apollo comes from a facility in Alabama that breeds, trains and sells Belgian Malinois, an extremely intelligent breed. From there, they are provided to veterans, police departments, hospitals and private security operations across the country. Although just a puppy, the dog came to him pre-trained and able to follow commands.

Ruiz, a sergeant, served in Okinawa, Japan in active duty and South Korea with the Marine Corps. He just re-enlisted to the Army Reserves. He was going to have Apollo trained as service dog, and use him for himself.

"When I got out of the military, things have been tough," he said. "My friend knew I would benefit from having him. Since the first day I got him, literally everything in my life got better."

As soon as Ruiz noticed the dog was missing, he stripped the entire truck and asked everyone in the crowded parking lot that evening. No sign of the dog, except for those who said they saw the pooch sitting on the front passenger seat just moments earlier.

Ruiz slept overnight in his truck Sunday and Monday at Ideal Beach and knocked on every door in the area.

"Someone actually called the police on me when I was knocking on so many doors. But when Middletown police heard the story, they've been really helpful," said Ruiz. He also wanted to add he was "so thankful" to the North Middletown residents — "total strangers" — who have been searched up and down Ideal Beach with him every day since, looking for the dog.

"I've been surprised, shocked and blessed at all these people who have gone out of their way," he said. "These are all just local people who have a kind heart; I met them while combing the beach for him. This one ice cream shop down there gives away a flyer with every ice cream."

"I still can't believe this is happening. I have mixed emotions; I feel sad, I feel guilty," he continued. "I could have so easily told me cousin, 'Hey, you get me a drink; I'll stay with the dog.'"

Ruiz is giving a $2,500 reward to whoever can find Apollo, money that has partially been raised from a GoFundMe page. You'll also probably see "flyers everywhere" around Ideal beach, Keansburg, Keyport and Middleotwn.

"I did entertain the fact that maybe he could have run away but I know he didn't. He has never done that," he said. "So if someone did take him and now feels bad, even if you just tell me some BS story, like the dog was running in my yard, I don't care. Just call me. I will give you the reward money. I really don't care. I just want him back."

If you know anything about where Apollo is, call Ruiz at (973) 997-7183 (he goes by JR) or call Middletown police: (732) 615-2100. There's also a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FIND-Apollo-109076030887536/

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