Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/dementia-patient-stolen-dog/

A 71-year-old woman with dementia living in Uptown New Orleans is anxious and miserable after a cruel stranger dognapped her beloved pooch from practically right under her nose.

Dianne Ramsey is accompanied by her 15-year-old Yorkie, Sasha, nearly wherever she goes. The pair have spent countless hours sitting on the front porch together, and the elderly woman depends on the dog to help her cope with day-to-day activities.

“She stays under my foot,” says Dianne. “She follows me, we follow each other.”

“She sits on my mom’s lap all day, she walks my mom to the bathroom, she sits on the front porch with her,” says Dianne’s daughter, Letreion Clements.

But one day, shortly after Letreion let the dog outside to use the bathroom, she disappeared without a trace. She never scratched at the door to be let back in, and when Letreion went out to get her, she was nowhere to be found.

Later, footage from the home’s Ring Doorbell camera revealed that a strange woman had approached the animal with treats, lured her into a vehicle, and driven away.

Letreion called NOPD after she realized what had happened. NOPD says the woman is a person of interest but is not considered wanted.

Dianne has vascular dementia, and Sasha is her companion. Dianne’s daughter says the loss of the dog has greatly affected her.

“Since then, my mom hasn’t wanted to sit on the porch, she hasn’t wanted to eat, it’s been a difficult time since Friday,” she says. “My mom really misses her. It helps my mom cope, and I pray someone has a big enough heart to think of my mom.”

“She’s probably looking for me,” Dianne adds.

Letreion isn’t sure why someone would want Sasha, but her main focus is to get the dog back. She’s been driving around the neighborhood, handing out fliers, and checking at local shelters. We can only hope someone is able to bring Sasha home soon!

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog