A $5,000 reward is being offered for the safe return of a veteran's service animal, stolen during a burglary last month.
"I just thought it was just an awful thing that somebody broke into his place," Buddy Cramer said. Cramer is Managing Partner of the Katy Trail Ice House. He put up a $5,000 reward. "The worst part was he lost his friend."
Emmanuel Bernadin, who served two tours in Iraq and has been diagnosed with PTSD, was burglarized last month. Among the things taken from his North Arlington apartment was his French mastiff Rozelyn, his 70-pound service animal.
With Veterans Day next week, the North Texas vet is hoping someone can help him find his companion, whom he's had since he bought her as a puppy in 2018.
Rozelyn, Bernadin said, helps him get through some hard memories.
"There's certain things that you just can't turn off in your mind," he said. "No one should have to understand the effects or the side effects of war."
Last month, Bernadin said someone broke into his Arlington apartment and stole Rozelyn, along with TVs, a PlayStation and cameras.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
The burglary, he said, happened in the overnight hours on Oct. 19, while he was away from home.
Bernadin, who is in the process of moving to an apartment where he'll feel more safe, said he's desperate to bring his best friend home.
"This isn't happening. That's all I can tell myself," he said.
The Katy Trail Ice House in Dallas is offering a $5,000 reward through Tarrant County Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest. "I hope this person does the right thing," Cramer said. "Sure hope they recover the dog."
Anyone with information about the burglary or Rozelyn can call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS, or contact Arlington police Detective Kate Phillips at 817-459-6482.
