TITUSVILLE, Fla. – Update: The stolen dog was found near I-4 in Winter Haven and has since been reunited with her owner.
A Titusville family has placed flyers across Central Florida and is offering a $5,000 reward for the return of their beloved dog, who was stolen during a burglary Wednesday.
[PHOTOS: Titusville family offers reward for return of dog stolen in burglary]
Courtney Mulligan, the owner of the 6-pound, 12-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Beanie, said she was living her worst nightmare after she learning someone had broken into her family’s home and Beanie was missing.
"I'm devastated. She's my baby, the love of my life for sure," Mulligan said.
Courtney’s mother, Mary, said she discovered that her house had been broken into Wednesday afternoon when she came home and found a glass window had been broken and Beanie was missing.
"They went to my bedroom, took my jewelry box and emptied all the drawers, and there was some jewelry hidden in there,” Mary Mulligan said. “Then they went to the dining room, into the china cabinet, which was filled. One drawer had two sets of sterling flatware and they took that."
Signs of the break-in could still be seen around the Mulligans' home Sunday, but they said they aren’t focused on that – they’re focused on bringing Beanie back home.
"She was well into the thousands of dollars as a dog, so I think the thieves that took her knew that she was of value and could be resold for a decent amount of cash," Courtney Mulligan said.
The Mulligans have put up flyers throughout Central Florida with a picture and information about Beanie, and are offering a $5,000 reward for her return in hopes that the community will help them get results as they search for their missing family member.
"We don't care about what they took. We just care about her,” Courtney Mulligan said. “We will give them money to get her back. We will not ask questions.”
Courtney Mulligan said Beanie is a part of her family and they just want her home.
Beanie has silver and tan silky fur and a small black mole on her left eyelid, the Mulligans said.
Deputies told News 6 partner Florida Today that the burglar entered and left the Mulligans’ home through a window they broke and also stole jewelry, flatware and pillow cases.
The family told News 6 that two other homes in the area were burglarized Wednesday, but did not say if deputies thought the cases were connected.
Anyone with information about Beanie is asked to contact the Mulligan family at bringbeaniehome@gmail.com or the Sheriff’s Office at 321-264-5100.