Deaf Dog Abducted in Alabama Rescued a Year Later in Maricopa

A deaf dog, stolen on December 8 from a home in Silverhill, Alabama, has been safely recovered in Maricopa, Arizona. The sheepdog, named Rags, was taken from Olivia Gardner’s residence near the Gulf Coast, prompting a community effort to locate him.

Following a tip-off, Silverhill police reached out to the Maricopa Police Department, leading to the discovery of Rags at a home on the 22000 block of Mulligan Drive. Officers Sgts. Chance Jordan and Kevin Mellor, along with Det. Joe Ramos, acted on the information quickly.

During the police investigation, suspects claimed they were fostering Rags for a friend and provided a false name for the dog. However, microchip identification and photo comparisons proved his true identity as Rags, according to the Maricopa Police Department.

Reports indicate that the theft of Rags occurred amid a custody dispute between Gardner and the dog’s previous owners. Surveillance footage captured a masked individual abducting Rags, escalating concerns within the community.

Gardner is set to travel to Arizona to reunite with her beloved pet, an MPD spokesperson confirmed. Meanwhile, the Silverhill Police Department is continuing its investigation to determine possible charges against the alleged dognappers.

InMaricopa has reached out to Gardner for an interview regarding the incident and her upcoming reunion with Rags.