Surveillance footage captures women picking up lost family dog in West Warwick

WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — A West Warwick family is heartbroken after losing their beloved dog, but security footage at a nearby store may help bring him home.

The Beltrans said they welcomed a Shih Tzu, Hercules, to their family about 11 years ago.

“When we first got married, that was the first Christmas present that I gave to my wife,” Jairo Beltran said.

But earlier this week, as the family was hosting a party, Hercules vanished.

“He usually goes upstairs when he doesn’t want to be around people,” Jairo said. “So when it was time for the kids to go to bed, I started calling his name, but he didn’t come out.”

“That’s when I realized that he somehow snuck out of the house,” he added.

At that moment, the search was on.

“We put up flyers, asked people, went to the animal shelters,” Leticia Beltran said. “Handing flyers out too, asked if they had seen the dog, they didn’t have anything.”

The last place Hercules was seen was at a corner store on West Warwick Avenue.

It was there that surveillance video captured two young women picking the dog up and taking him away.

The clerk’s brother told ABC6 the women said they were looking to give Hercules a place to stay before returning him to his rightful owner.

“A lot of people that don’t know him, they think he’s a puppy,” Leticia said. “Because he’s small, cute, friendly, but he’s a senior dog.”

“He’s almost 11 years old, he needs care,” she added, noting Hercules is on a special medication.

The family said they’re not assuming any bad intent; they just want Hercules home.

“I don’t wanna get anyone in trouble, I just want my dog back,” Leticia said. “If you see my dog, please, he has a home, we love him so very much, we just want him back.”

The family said the West Warwick Police Department is investigating the case.

They added that Hercules did not have his collar on when he disappeared, saying he had just gotten back from the groomer.

Police did not get back to ABC6 on Thursday, but the Beltrans said anyone who has information can call police or reach out to the family directly (401-332-1144).

UPDATE 3/14: Hercules returned home Friday morning after his owners connected with the women who found him. Read the latest here.