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A Philadelphia mother is making an emotional public appeal for the safe return of her son’s stolen rescue dog, Cody.
The theft occurred outside a local convenience store in North Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania 19133, United States. Kerri Corrado and Jim McHugh reported on the family’s search efforts for CBS Philadelphia on October 20, 2026.
Diane Newman explained that her boyfriend took Cody to the convenience store over the weekend. Because pets were prohibited inside the establishment, he tied the dog to a pole right next to the entrance. Upon exiting after completing his purchases, Cody was missing. Newman has been searching the surrounding neighborhood relentlessly ever since.
The loss is particularly devastating for Newman’s 47-year-old son, Jamel, who has cerebral palsy and relies on a wheelchair following a childhood accident. Newman rescued Cody as a Christmas surprise for Jamel, and the two quickly formed an inseparable, cherished bond. Newman shared that Cody serves as her son’s primary companion and constant source of comfort.
The family is urging whoever took the dog, or anyone with information regarding Cody’s whereabouts, to do the right thing and return him safely. Newman hopes community awareness will help reunite her son with his best friend.
My thoughts:
- Companion animals provide essential emotional support and friendship for individuals living with physical disabilities.
- Leaving pets unattended outside retail locations exposes them to significant risks of theft.
- Community involvement and local news coverage play vital roles in locating missing or stolen family pets.
- Rescuing shelter animals fosters deep, life-changing bonds between pets and their adoptive families.
- The sudden loss of a primary companion pet creates intense distress for vulnerable individuals.
- Appeals grounded in empathy encourage individuals involved in pet thefts to return animals safely.
Source: CBS Philadelphia (Kerri Corrado, Jim McHugh)
