The proprietor of six teacup poodle puppies that were snatched in the middle of the night from her Bronx residence mentioned the heartless theft has left her whole household crushed since “everyone wanted one for Christmas this year.”
Two masked dognappers acquired into Margarite Oquendo’s residence on Nov. 10 after stealing a spare set of home keys from the console of her automotive that was parked simply blocks away, close to Crotona Park, she mentioned.
“All they did was take the dogs,” a devastated Oquendo, 30, advised The Post on Wednesday.
“I believe I was watched that day and possibly followed,” she added. “People know I have them … they know I have the dogs. I post them online on social media.”
The mother of two, who works as a flight attendant, mentioned her complete household is “distraught” by the theft of the puppies, which her 2-year-old miniature poodle, Lucy, an emotional assist canine, lately gave delivery to.
“Everybody was distraught over this and they’re worried for the puppies,” she mentioned.
The pups had been Lucy’s first litter of teacup poodles, which develop to be not more than 9 inches and weigh lower than 6 kilos.
Oquendo mentioned every of the tiny pups — two males named Bam Bam and Papi and 4 females named La La Loopsy, Kiss Me, Cuddles and Honey — had been designated for relations or associates for Christmas items.
“Everybody wanted a puppy from Lucy. I wanted to make that happen, and now she’s missing her babies, too.”
Oquendo, who lives together with her two daughters, ages 10 and three, mentioned she instantly seen one thing was out of place after getting home the day of the break-in — and shortly found the puppies had been gone.
“I did panic at first. I was like there was somebody in my house, you know, ‘what’s going on?’ So I just ran out of the apartment with my dog (Lucy) and I went to security. I went to get help right immediately. I called 911,” she recalled.
While the dog-loving mother is relieved she and her two kids weren’t home on the time of the theft, she says she hopes whoever took the pups will carry them again home.
“I hope they’re taking care of them wherever they are because this is a serious crime. I want them to bring them back safely,” Oquendo mentioned.
The puppies, that are solely 4 weeks old, additionally nonetheless closely depend on their mom for feeding and nurturing.
“It’s a lot because they are really, really small. They just opened up their eyes. They just started walking and stuff. It’s terrible,” Oquendo mentioned.
The heartbroken mother mentioned she nonetheless isn’t positive break the information to her youngest daughter, who could be very connected to the dogs.
Both women are presently staying with relations whereas Oquendo handles the scenario.
Oquendo warned different dog-owners to be watchful.
“Just be aware,” she mentioned. “Don’t leave nothing in your cars, take all your items with you wherever you go. This could happen to anybody.”
The still-at-large suspects had been pictured in stills from surveillance footage launched by the NYPD late Monday.
Both are seen carrying white face masks, and one had on a maroon hoodie and the opposite a black hoodie.
Anyone with details about the theft is requested to name the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public may submit their suggestions by logging onto the Crime Stoppers web site at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on X at @NYPDTips.
