An award-winning French bulldog and a litter of his prized puppies, worth a total of $80,000 ,were stolen from the home of a Miami man on New Year's Eve, Reuters reports.
French bulldogs are the most commonly stolen dog in the U.S., worth around $2,500 each, and among those swiped from owner Marcelo Cicuta were El Che, who has won various awarrds including "the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in 2010 and the French Bulldog Club of America National Specialty Show in 2009," according to Reuters, along with 15 puppies between the ages of 16 and 27-days-old.
"I need help. They need their mothers," Cicuta told the Miami Herald on Thursday of the very young puppies. "They need milk from their mother, or any mother for survival."
According to local officials, the thieves likely used a pillowcase to cart away the puppies. They left behind another little of five and two older females, as well as a number of Cicuta's valuables including an iPad, laptop and jewelry.
"Breeders do a lot of research of pedigrees to look at ancestors and their traits," American Kennel Club spokeswoman Lisa Peterson told Reuters on Friday. "These criminals figure they'll steal these dogs, sell them below market value, and make a quick buck."
El Che, named after named after the Cuban revolutionary, Che Guevara, is valued at around $50,000, while his puppies were worth $30,000 altogether. Without pedigree papers, however, El Che and his puppies' value is reduced significantly.
Miami police are currently investigating and have reportedly chased down several leads on who broke into Cicuta's house through a window and swiped the 16 dogs. Cicuta believes the thief was familiar with the nature of his business and how much the dogs were worth.
"Most dogs, puppies at two weeks, their eyes haven't even opened yet. They're completely dependent on their mothers," Peterson told the Miami Herald.
