Family's Dog Stolen During Park Slope Break-In

PARK SLOPE, NY — A thief broke into a Park Slope apartment over the weekend and stole the occupant's beloved 12-year-old pooch Zoey, according to police and the dog's owners.

Christopher Mayne was visiting family in Georgia over the Memorial Day weekend with his wife and daughter when somebody broke into his second-floor apartment and swiped a folding bike, a jar full of change and the dog.

"She's like our first kid," said Mayne, 44. "She's very precious. We're hoping beyond hope we find her."

The Maynes hired a dog walker to look after Zoey and their other pet dog, Vincent, while they were away, but when she went to take them out on Saturday afternoon Zoey didn't respond and wasn't inside the Union Street apartment. Mayne hopped on the first flight back to Brooklyn and, when he got home, found mud prints showing the person got in through a window.

"They went in and trashed the place," said Mayne, adding he had a security camera on in the apartment but it wasn't recording.

He said Zoey's old collar was missing and it would've been nearly impossible for her to run outside during the break-in since his apartment has three heavy doors leading outside. The thief also probably didn't notice the Maynes other dog, Vincent, because he mostly stays in their bathroom.

The devastated owners have plastered fliers all over Park Slope, Windsor Terrace and Sunset Park hoping to find Zoey, which is a mixed breed, and have gotten tips from people saying they'd seen her running around Prospect Park.

Mayne first got Zoey from a shelter in Oregon 11-years-ago. His 2-year-old daughter keeps asking if the pet is coming back and the theft has been particularly hard on his wife, he said.

"It’s been really, really rough for her," said Mayne.

He has also offered a cash reward for Zoey's return and said he won't care how the person got the dog as long as she comes home.

"No questions asked, I just want her back," said Mayne.

Anyone with information about Zoey can call Christopher Mayne at 541-285-4952.

Images courtesy of Kaori Goto