Mother of Philadelphia Eagles player asking for help finding dog taken from Port Richmond Target
The mother of a Philadelphia Eagles player is asking the public for help finding her dog, which she says was stolen from inside a Target in Port Richmond at the end of October.
Tralee Hale-Ringo, whose son is Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo, said her dog Mali went into the store with her but didn't follow her into the bathroom. When Hale-Ringo exited the bathroom, she said, Mali was gone. Security footage released by police showed Mali leaving the store followed by a group of four people.
Philadelphia police are looking for the four people accused of taking the dog from the Target at 2701 Castor Avenue on Oct. 28 at 9 a.m.
"This is my best friend, this is my daughter," Hale-Ringo said. "She has been with our family for 10 years and we are just distraught, we are just heartbroken. My son and myself, we are missing a part of our family, and we are just begging for her return."
The dog is a black 8-pound Shih Tzu with a pink tail and a pink "top knot" on her head, her owner said. She was wearing a blue tutu when she went missing. Hale-Ringo said Mali was by her side during a bout with breast cancer.
"She just was my company," Hale-Ringo told CBS News Philadelphia. "My son had just reported to college, and nine days later I got diagnosed."
Kelee Ringo said not having Mali around has been difficult.
"I've watched her grow as a little dog, and she's here to watch me grow as well," he said. "I've had her for 10 years. That's almost half my life."
Authorities said the Shih Tzu was last tracked in the 2800 block of Aramingo Avenue, which is about 9 minutes from the Target store in Port Richmond.
In the video you see the little dog run out of the store doors followed closed by the four suspects. Another surveillance angle shows the suspects walking into the parking lot, getting into a car and driving away.
Hale-Ringo said she is urging whoever has the dog to take it to police "no questions asked" w ithin the next 24 hours. She and Ringo are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the dog's return.
Hale-Ringo said Mali is 10 years old and said she does not believe the dog will adjust well to a new environment. The dog takes medication and does not tolerate children well, she said.
"It's really a tough experience right now, going through it without having her and seeing my mom sad ... but we're just trying to have a good mindset and be hopeful we'll be able to find her," Ringo said.
Police said if you see the suspects not to approach them and call 911 immediately. If anyone has information about the dog theft, authorities said to call the East Detective Division at 215-686-3243/3244.
