North Miami Beach man pleads for stolen puppy’s return

A purloined puppy has a North Miami Beach man grieving.

David Yadgaroff, 66, said two women, friends of his, stopped by his apartment on Sept. 3 and left with his 6-month-old purebred Dachshund, Rocco.

The women were there to say goodbye before moving out of state, he said. One of the women was moving out of the building after breaking up with her boyfriend, Yadgaroff’s neighbor.

After goodbyes were exchanged, Yadgaroff, a diabetic, went to bed. He was still recovering from the previous night’s low blood sugar attack. The attack was so severe paramedics were called to the scene, and his friend, Judie Hedini, said she had to perform CPR.

Hedini said one of the women distracted her out on the terrace of his sixth floor condo while the other woman allegedly made off with Yadgaroff’s emotional support dog.

Hedini said her two-pound Yorkie, Tiamo, tapped at the glass door to get her attention.

“I turned and asked her, ‘Where’s your friend?’,” Hedini said.

By the time Hedini and Yadgaroff realized the dog was gone, the women were speeding away, they said.

He called his friend, pleading for the return of the dog, but Yadgaroff said she denied taking Rocco. She suggested the puppy was lost in the neighborhood.

“He’s not tall enough to hit the elevator button,” Yadgaroff said.

He and Hedini believe the motive was financial. Earlier that month one woman had remarked that his purebred pup must be worth nearly $1,600.

“Nonsense,” Yadgaroff replied, “I didn’t pay more that $380.”

When he picked up his furry friend, purchased in Orlando from his college roommate, Rocco was only four weeks old.

“All he was was paws and ribs,” Yadgaroff said. “He wasn’t even a foot long.”

Rocco is identifiable by five little white hairs on his nose, and he wasn’t wearing a collar. North Miami Beach police are investigating the theft.

“He’s my love, and I’m brokenhearted,” Yadgaroff said, “He was tremendous for me, tremendous. I am so hurt.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 305-471-TIPS.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 9:05 PM with the headline "North Miami Beach man pleads for stolen puppy’s return."