A Marine veteran’s service dog taken from her Vista home last year was found about 1,400 miles away in Texas, but was in the custody of animal control officers today pending a hearing to determine ownership.
Alexandra Melnick’s black and tan German Shepherd “Kai” disappeared from her secured backyard in Dec. 10, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Melnick told the San Diego Union-Tribune she suffered from a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder after an accident occurred while she was working in motor transport in Afghanistan. She bought Kai after getting out of the Marine Corps and had him trained to help her sleep and wake her when she has nightmares.
The trained and certified service dog is valued at $15,000, authorities said.
A tip submitted via a Facebook page set up to help locate Kai said the dog had been spotted in Aubrey, Texas.
Melnick subsequently flew to Texas and contacted a Denton County constable in an effort to get her dog back, according to a sheriff’s department statement.
Law enforcement and animal control officers found the German Shepherd at a residence last week and took him into their custody. A microchip confirmed that it was indeed Kai, sheriff’s officials said.
Melnick told reporters the dog is not healthy.
A property hearing has been scheduled, and sheriff’s officials said the identity of the suspected dognapper is known
