$80,000 stolen dogs: Missing French bulldogs worth a bundle
Two litters of French bulldog puppies worth $80,000 were stolen from a Miami breeder's home on New Year's Eve. French bulldogs are one of the most commonly stolen breeds in the US, though they are worth less without proper pedigree papers.
Tate, a 2-year-old French bulldog from Pennsburg, Pa., waits to compete in the wings during the 134th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, In February, 2010 in New York. On New Year's Eve two litters of French bulldog puppies worth $80,000 were stolen in Miami.
Mary Altaffer/AP
Miami, Fla.
A Miami man returned from a New Year's Eve celebration to find his prize French bulldog and two litters of puppies, valued at $80,000,聽stolen聽from his home, police said.
The missing聽dogs听颈苍肠濒耻诲别听, who is named after Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara and won awards at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 2010 and the聽聽of America National Specialty Show in 2009, according to owner聽.
While Cicuta was ringing in the new year at a friend's kennel, thieves broke into his house and likely used a pillowcase to carry the聽dogs聽away, police said.
The 15聽stolen聽puppies are 16 and 27 days old, Cicuta said on Friday. A third litter of five puppies and two older female聽dogs聽were left behind.
French bulldogs - the third-most commonly聽stolen聽breed in the聽, according to the聽聽- can fetch up to $2,500 each.
The police report valued聽聽at $50,000 and his offspring puppies at $30,000. But the聽dogs' worth is far lower without papers proving their pedigree, the kennel club said.
"Breeders do a lot of research of pedigrees to look at ancestors and their traits,"聽听蝉辫辞办别蝉飞辞尘补苍听聽said on Friday. "These criminals figure they'll steal these聽dogs, sell them below market value, and make a quick buck."聽