The Koch family's dog Cody was stolen from their north Chico yard Tuesday, and returned, dead, this morning.
CHICO — For the last week the Koch family has been hoping and waiting for someone to return their 6-year-old miniature Australian shepherd, which disappeared from their north Chico backyard Tuesday.
Their beloved Cody was found this morning, but it was with heartbreak, not joy, that the family was reunited. Someone had placed the dead dog near a fence in their backyard.
"We are just heartbroken," said Beth Koch, who brought home Cody and his littermate Callie when they were 8-week-old puppies.
A week ago, Koch was in her home on Rio Grande Drive, off Garner Lane, when she heard the dogs start barking. Callie burst inside as if something was wrong, and as Koch opened the front door, she saw a white van speed away.
She went to look for Cody and could not find him, despite scouring every inch of their one-acre property. Callie would not leave the gate, and continued to check it for days.
"She just sits there like she's waiting for him," Koch said.
The family worked diligently to spread the word about their missing canine. They filed a police report, followed leads to other cities and did surveillance, looking out for the white van.
A Facebook page called "Bring Cody Home" garnered more than 1,200 followers, who posted encouragement and could download fliers to post around town.
Because Cody was neutered and not a puppy, Koch is not sure why someone would steal him, other than his sweet and obedient temperament. Perhaps they wanted ransom, she said.
The family had hoped a $2,000 reward would spur someone into either returning Cody. They were emphatic about the fact it could be an anonymous return, with people taking the dog to any Chico veterinarian.
On Monday, seven days after his disappearance, Callie persistently led Beth's husband to the other side of the yard. He found Cody curled like he was sleeping, but he wasn't breathing and his black, tan and white body was cold.
Seeing that his gums were still pink, they rushed him to the vet, who after an exam said it looked like the 40-pound Aussie had been poisoned. They are conducting an necropsy to determine date and cause of death.
Koch broke the sad news to supporters online Monday and the post was flooded with mourning and condolences. Many were outraged and said whoever was responsible for Cody's death needs to be found and brought to justice.
"In honor of Cody and so he did not die in vain, we need to find this person who is stealing dogs in Chico," Koch said. "If you can, be on Cody Alert. If anything else, perhaps the loss of him could help save another dog."
She's convinced this is not a one-time theft. A former coworker told her a man tried to take one of their bulldogs Monday morning. Her husband gave chase, and as the dog escaped and was secured, the alleged thief get away in a white van.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office has issued an alert about Cody's theft and death, asking for assistance. The vehicle seen leaving the scene of the theft is described as a dull, primer-white van with no windows, similar to an ice cream or postal truck and with lettering on the back in neon yellow or neon orange.
Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at 538-7322.
Koch expressed gratitude for the community's support.
"We've been overwhelmed," she said. "What I saw is how many people in Chico saw what it was like to own not a dog, but have a family member. That was our son that was stolen and murdered."
Since the theft, Callie has not been left alone and will not be again. The Koches have padlocked their fences and are contemplating security cameras.
After another dog theft case last year, Tracy Mohr, Chico's animal services director said she seldom hears about stolen dogs but theft and other safety concerns are reasons it may be best to not leave dogs outside unattended.
Mohr also advocated for microchips, which she said must be registered and up-to-date. Most of all, she encouraged owners to not give up when a pet goes missing.
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