BOSTON — The Animal Rescue League of Boston is investigating after a rash of small dogs has gone missing from neighborhoods in Boston.
Officials say the dogs are mostly Chihuahuas.
Marla McRae's dog went missing from her yard in Dorchester. She is heartbroken.
Chico is not the only dog missing.
"My dog Chico went missing Sept. 6. It was a rainy day," McRae said.
The Animal Rescue League of Boston told Boston 25 News that 14 small breed dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, were stolen from the same parts of Dorchester and Roxbury back in September.
In the months that followed, five small dogs were reported missing from the nearby South End.
"Clearly in some of these cases, these dogs were taken on purpose. And it's just a reminder for people to be vigilant," said Animal Rescue League spokesman Mike DeFina.
DeFina says their biggest concern is what's happening to the little dogs.
"It could have been something as simple as the dog snuck out and wandered away, But clearly some of these dogs were taken on purpose," he said.
And for people like Marla, it hurts enough losing her own dog. But knowing it's happening to more people makes it even worse.
"I'm very upset because I didn't know it was a continuation of missing dogs in the area, which is horrible," she said.