A Vietnam veteran died before he could be reunited with his stolen service dog. Kira, a Pomeranian, was stolen from 67-year-old Joseph Hanson last month. As reported by Fox 35 Orlando, the police recovered the dog, but Hanson was in the hospital when she was found, and he died the very next day – before ever having the chance to see his beloved companion again.

The theft

On November 2, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office reached out to the public for help. The agency recounted what happened:

 PLEASE SHARE: SERVICE DOG THEFT!  We need your help to identify this suspect.
On October 28, 2018, Our deputies responded to Old Town in reference to a theft of a service dog. The victim, a 67-year-old Vietnam veteran advised he has PTSD and was at Old Town with his two Pomeranian service dogs

According to the authorities, a woman started an altercation with Hanson while another woman whisked his dog away. The sheriff’s office stated, “The victim never saw the second female and he had no idea what happened to the dog. The incident was captured on surveillance video and the suspect is seen below stealing the dog.”