JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A local exotic pet store owner is breathing a sigh of relief today after a community-led search effort resulted in the recovery of a stolen puppy. However, the ordeal is far from over, as a second animal remains missing.
Stephen Brezil, the owner of Xtreme Exotics, took to social media on Wednesday to announce that his stolen puppy had been returned to his care. The animal was taken during a brazen theft this past Saturday that involved a group of four individuals who allegedly coordinated to distract staff.
According to Brezil, the group entered his store and began behaving in an unusual manner, asking to handle the puppy—a practice he noted is typically restricted. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts suggest the suspects used the puppy as a lure, passing the animal between themselves before one individual tucked it under their arm and carried it out of the store “like he was carrying a football.”
It was only after the group departed that staff realized a bearded dragon had also been snatched from one of the store’s display enclosures.
“I am just glad to have the puppy back,” Brezil said during a phone interview with News4JAX.
Brezil credited the power of social media for the recovery, stating that his public appeals and the sharing of surveillance imagery helped him track down the suspects. A confrontation between the store owner and the individuals occurred on Wednesday, leading to a police presence. Despite the recovery of the dog, Brezil noted that the suspects were not arrested at the scene, and the bearded dragon remains missing.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) has confirmed they are actively investigating the incident. In a statement released Wednesday, officials acknowledged the return of the dog, noting that the animal was recovered outside of the Jacksonville jurisdiction.
“We are aware that the puppy has been recovered safe and are grateful,” the statement read. “We are in constant contact with the owner and have assigned investigators to the case. The puppy was found outside of our jurisdiction and we are working closely with partner agencies.”
While the puppy is now safe at home, the investigation into the original theft and the whereabouts of the missing reptile continues. Because no formal charges have been filed against the suspects at this time, authorities and local media outlets have remained cautious regarding the release of the identities of the individuals involved in the incident.
Brezil is continuing to urge anyone with information regarding the missing bearded dragon or further details on the theft to contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. For now, the Xtreme Exotics community is celebrating the return of the pup, though the search for the store’s other missing resident persists.
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