The Bronx—Eusebio Baez returned from a weekend getaway in Vermont to discover his four cherished bulldogs had vanished under mysterious circumstances. A trusted dog walker, known to him for years, picked up the pups for a routine walk but never brought them home. What followed was a frantic search that gripped the community and ended in an emotional reunion.[1][2]
A Routine Walk Turns into Nightmare
Surveillance footage captured the moment the dog walker arrived at Baez’s Riverdale apartment near Post Road and Fieldston Terrace on a Saturday afternoon. He entered around 4:25 p.m. with the four dogs and departed 18 minutes later, leashes and harnesses in hand. No video showed a return, shattering the sense of security Baez had placed in the individual he had trusted since 2019.[1][3]
Baez received a troubling call from the walker that Sunday as he drove back from his snowboarding trip. The walker first claimed the dogs were no longer at his own apartment, then insisted he had dropped them off the previous day. Police later questioned the walker, who stated he could not recall returning the animals, citing possible seizures. Baez found the explanation unconvincing, especially after additional footage placed the walker near the Van Cortlandt Park-242nd Street subway station without the dogs.[4]
The Pets at the Center of Baez’s World
Churro, Mocha, and Rosie, three French bulldogs with distinctive tan and black brindle coats, along with Banksy, a white English bulldog marked with brown spots, formed the heart of Baez’s daily life. The 35-year-old Bronx resident valued the quartet at $32,500, but their worth went far beyond money. “These are dogs that mean the world to me. My life, my schedule, my work revolves around me taking care of them,” Baez said.[1]
Authorities classified the incident as grand larceny, confirming the dogs were taken without permission. Baez moved into the apartment just three weeks prior and had given the walker keys, amplifying his sense of betrayal. He refrained from naming the individual publicly but shared his anguish openly, pleading for their safe return without questions.[5]
Community Mobilizes in Desperate Hunt
Baez sprang into action, printing and distributing 400 flyers across the neighborhood, visiting veterinarians, shelters, and pet stores. Social media posts amplified his call for help, drawing widespread attention. He reviewed texts from the walker, who claimed to be searching for the dogs, but doubts persisted.[1]…