Mochi and David Baker (@davidbaker/Instagram)
David Baker was sleeping in his San Francisco apartment when a burglar managed to break in. In addition to a computer and some electronics, the thief also made off with his female Pit Bull, Mochi.
"It essentially feels like a kidnapping to me," said Baker. "She was my child. She was taken away from my house."
A neighborhood surveillance camera managed to capture a photo of the thief: a dark-haired woman with a large backpack, walking away with Mochi and two bicycles.
Baker reported the theft to local police, but also took to social media to get the word out about Mochi. He posted a picture to Instagram, along with a description of the dog, describing her most notable feature as her front paws being grey, while her back paws are white and sock-like.
"I don't care about my belongings at all," he said. "If there's a way to get my dog back, no questions asked, that's fine."
Baker's posts were liked and shared over 1000 times, helping to spread the word about her disappearance.
Within 2 days, Baker and the police had received several tips from people recognizing the woman as a regular in the area. While she hadn't been seen since the night of the burglury, Baker was informed that she was likely to return to the downtown area.
The following evening, someone spotted Mochi with a woman matching the description of the thief and called 911. The thief, identified as Melissa Perna, was arrested that night and Mochi was returned to her owner.
Baker posted to Instagram: "MOCHI IS HOME!!!! [...] We did it! Thank you thank you thank you I'm so grateful for all of you"