LANHAM, Md. — Pets are often considered family, and right now one Maryland family is absolutely devastated.
On Nov. 15, the Diaz family says their little Shih Tzu named Coco, was snatched up by a larger dog just steps from their home.
"My dad was doing his evening walks with him and his brother, Lucky. They always walk up to the park, walk around there and then come right back down. So when he came right back down, they were walking perfectly fine like their day-to-day, and next thing you know, a pit bull/bulldog comes from behind and snatched Coco," said Wendy Diaz.
She told WUSA9 that her dad tried to jump forward and stop the larger dog, but it had already taken off with Coco in its mouth. The whole thing was captured on a neighbor's doorbell camera.
"It's so graphic. There's no words," she said, describing what the video shows.
More footage from various neighbors' doorbell cameras shows her father and a man who they believe was the bigger dog's owner, chasing after the two dogs and yelling.
The entire time, you can see little Coco in the dog's mouth.
At some point, Diaz says her father lost sight of the dogs and the other possible owner. But, she says that image of what happened has stayed with her and her entire family.
"You close your eyes you think of him. You open your eyes you think of him. You're like what else can I do," said Diaz.
She and her family posted up fliers throughout the neighborhood and have searched relentlessly. They even got in touch with the person they thought was the dog's owner.
"We contacted who we think can possibly be, from what we have gotten information from and they're just saying it's not them," said Diaz.
She says they also contacted the police and gave a statement to animal control, but haven't heard back.
Diaz says the entire thing was only made worse by the last video they received from a neighbor.
"It shows the dog putting Coco on the floor and Coco is not moving," she said. "It took the hope away of finding him alive".
She said at this point, they just want Coco back.
"Please give me my dog back. Just give me Coco back and if you don't have him please tell me what happened to him. What did you do with him? Did you bury him? Did you throw him away?" she questioned.
She said she wants to send a reminder to all dog owners.
"Please be able to control them, leash them. I have nothing against bigger dogs. My family has bigger dogs from my dad's side. And if you know how to train them and be loving dogs, this would have never happened or if that dog would have been on a leash, it would have never happened," said Diaz.
She said she also wants to spread awareness about what happened.
"It could have been a kid, a child. It could have been a grandparent. It could have been my father. It could have been anybody. But, this time just because it was Coco doesn't mean it can't happen again," said Diaz.
If you have seen Coco or have any information about where he is. The Diaz family wants to hear you.
You can call (240) 840-8323 or send an e-mail to Justiceforcocoo@gmail.com.