He's known for being a fierce protector to the stars, but now bodyguard Kris Herzog is asking for some help of his own after "Bear," his German shepherd, was snatched from his back yard on June 19.
"This is easily one of our saddest days," said Herzog. "We feel like we've lost a part of the group, because Bear, although only 2-and-a-half years old, had gone to the VA hospitals and went to the families of U.S. veterans deployed or K.I.A., and spent time with them as a therapy dog."
Herzog says the German shepherd was gentle and loving, bringing joy to combat veterans and their families.
Now flyers line the neighborhood asking for Bear's return.
"He is the biggest, sweetest dog in the world. He's so friendly and such a loving dog, he was easy to steal, and it didn't surprise me at all when the witness said that the gentleman that wrapped the rope around his neck and drug him down the street, it didn't surprise me that my dog didn't bite him or bite back because the dog was a big sweetheart, that's why he could run around a group of 50 children, they'd rub hot dogs over his face and he wouldn't bite anyone," said Herzog.
Because Bear was staying with Special Operations combat veterans, the exact address he was stolen from is not being shared, but it was in the area of 119th Street and Birch Avenue in Hawthorne.
"To someone who is a returning combat veteran and trying to re-acclimate to society, having that dog lick you in the face when you get off the plane, the same dog you used to play catch with before you deployed, it's a big deal," said Herzog. "As well as for the children, of course, of the deployed and K.I.A. veterans."
Bear is micro-chipped. The Bodyguard Group is offering a $10,000 reward for his safe return. Anyone with information about Bear should contact Herzog at (310) 713-1591.
Story courtesy of ABC7 News sister station KABC in Los Angeles.
