Last Wednesday evening, a male suspect shot and wounded Lady Gaga’s dog walker, Ryan Fischer, and stole two her French bulldogs Koji and Gustav. The third dog, Miss Asia, was not taken.
According to the Los Angele Police Department, the theft happened in Hollywood at approximately 9:40 p.m. PT, and the suspect used a semiautomatic handgun and fled the scene.
A home-
surveillance video obtained by
TMZ showed a man jumping out of a car and confronting Fischer, saying “Give it up.” The men struggle; then a shot can be heard, as well as a dog’s yelps and the panicked cries of the injured victim. Fischer lay on the ground yelling, “Help me; I’ve been shot.”
Fischer is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
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Lady Gaga is currently in
Italy filming a movie, but spoke out about the attack for the first time on Friday in an
Instagram post.
“My heart is sick, and I am praying my family will be whole again with an act of kindness,” Lady Gaga posted, along with a photo of the dogs. She offered a $500,000 reward for the pets’ safe return and went on to praise Fischer saying, “I continue to love you Ryan Fischer; you risked your life to fight for our family. You’re forever a hero.”
Fortunately, the dogs were recovered unharmed.
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According to reports, a woman brought the dogs to LAPD’s Olympic Community Police Station Friday night around 6 p.m. PST. Gaga’s representatives were on hand to confirm they were the singer’s pets. The woman’s identity and the location where the dogs were found will remain confidential due to the active criminal investigation and for her safety.
It is unclear how the woman came to be in possession of the dogs, but law enforcement believe she is a good samaritan who was not involved with the theft.
Related Article: ‘Queerties’ Celebrates the Best in LGBTQ Entertainment Some are asking, why would anyone steal French bulldogs? In short, they are valuable and in demand.
Puppies typically sell for between $1,500-3,000, but they can sell for far more. This is not the first time French bulldogs, known as Frenchies, have been stolen. In November, two French bulldogs were reported stolen from the backyard of a residence in Daly City, just south of San Francisco. In January, a San Francisco woman reported being violently assaulted and having her six-month-old French bulldog stolen.
The American Kennel Club describes the breed as “one of the world’s most popular small-dog breeds, especially among city dwellers. The Frenchie is playful, alert, adaptable, and completely irresistible.”
