Donora family fears beloved dog was stolen
Coco has been missing from her Donora home since Thursday.
By TAYLOR BROWN
Senior Reporter
tbrown@yourmvi.com
A Donora family is asking for the public’s help in finding their beloved senior Shih Tzu, Coco, who has been missing since Thursday evening after disappearing from outside the family’s home.
Heather Massey said Coco, a black-and-white senior Shih Tzu with a distinctive underbite, disappeared sometime after 5:30 p.m. Thursday from the family’s driveway near the intersection of McKean Avenue and 13th Street, close to the former Spanish Club.
Massey said Coco was often allowed to roam around the family’s property because they live on a private block. Typically, Coco would sunbathe at the top of the driveway or lie in front of a neighbor’s house before returning home. Massey said everyone in their neighborhood knew Coco, as they frequently gave her treats if she stopped by to say hello.
When Coco did not come upstairs Thursday night, Massey assumed the dog had stayed downstairs with her daughter. It wasn’t until Friday morning that the family realized she was missing.
Later Friday, neighbors told Massey they had witnessed a black car pull over near the top of the driveway Thursday evening. According to Massey, the neighbors told her a dark-haired woman and a teenage boy got out of the vehicle, picked up Coco and drove away despite being told the dog belonged to someone.
A report has been filed with the Donora Police Department.
Massey said she immediately began searching the neighborhood and posting Coco’s photo across social media.
“I’ve posted her picture on every town page, every Facebook page I could find,” Massey said. “It has been shared a billion times.”
Now the family says time is critical because Coco requires daily medication.
“She desperately needs her medication, and we’re sick without her,” Massey said. “I feel terrible. My heart is broken. My granddaughter is looking for her. It’s just really terrible.”
Massey described Coco as an exceptionally friendly dog who would willingly approach strangers.
“She is so sweet,” she said. “She’ll roll over on her back and let you rub her belly. She would go with anyone.”
Massey believes someone has Coco, but said her family is not interested in placing blame and simply wants their pet returned safely.
“We just want her back, no questions asked,” Massey said. “If you have Coco, you don’t even have to contact us or be seen. Just bring her back and drop her off right where you found her near 13th and McKean. This is her home, and she knows exactly where her door is.”
Because the family lives on a private block, Massey said Coco would have no trouble finding her way home if she were left nearby.
“I don’t care how this happened,” she said. “I’ll just thank Jesus she’s safe. I just want her to come home. I won’t ever leave her out of my sight again.”
Massey plans to hang flyers throughout the Mon Valley and is asking residents to keep an eye out for Coco in their neighborhoods.
“If someone notices a new blackand-white Shih Tzu that wasn’t there before, please let us or the Donora Police know,” she said.
Anyone with information about Coco’s whereabouts is asked to contact Massey at hlmassey36@gmail.com or the Donora Police Department at 724379-6600.
