Couple offers $500 for return of stolen puppy

Tony Choularath returned home after work Thursday night to find someone had broken into his home, taken his television and a few other electronics, but most importantly his 3-month-old puppy.

Choularath and his girlfriend bought Karmelo, an American bully, from a friend in January. The dog is tricolored and has freckles on his chest and nose. Choularath said the breed is pretty rare for South Dakota.

When Choularath walked into his home in 300 block of North Juniper Place just after 10 p.m., he noticed a few things were out of place and then saw his television and some other electronics were missing.

"I went into the dog room, and that's when I saw that he was gone," he said. "I think they just saw him as a bonus."

Choularath owns another dog of the same breed, but that one is a year and a half.

He said he later noticed the door had been pried open. When he talked to his neighbor she told him she noticed a maroon Pontiac Grand Prix sitting in front of his house around 9:30 p.m., but she didn't think anything of it.

Choularath's girlfriend also saw the same car leaving the area when she was returning home a short time after him.

The couple is offering a $500 reward for anyone who brings their puppy home or who gives them tips that lead to his return.

"He shouldn't be hard to spot unless the people who have him don't bring him out," Choularath said.

They have posted information about the puppy on Facebook and brought posters to local veternarian offices.

"I'm fine with having my TV and electronics taken," he said. "I'm just worried about my puppy."