CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. — Two days after a 16-year-old dog was taken during a carjacking in broad daylight at a gas station in Capitol Heights, the pet has been found.
The senior dog is named Zoi and was reported stolen by her owner, Zorana, Monday afternoon.
A good Samaritan spotted the 16-year-old Shih Tzu walking in his yard not far from the gas station and texted police. He said he recognized Zoi from posts on social media and news coverage.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Zorana repeated as she held Zoi in her arms.
While Zoi was taken after a trip to the groomers, Zorana commented that she couldn't wait to take her home and clean her up.
"This is definitely a miracle," Zorana said. "I was coming to terms with maybe I may never see her again, maybe I will never get her back, but I didn't give up."
Zorana spoke with WUSA9 a day before Zoi was found and said Zoi was a gift from her husband at the time while they had been trying to get pregnant.
"I was having such a difficult time," she said. "Ten years trying to conceive. I was tired and exhausted from fertilities and I said just buy me this dog."
She ended up getting pregnant with her daughter less than a year later, and she raised both Zoi and her daughter side-by-side.
Then on Monday, while bringing Zoi back from the groomer, Zorana stopped to get gas at a Wawa on Hampton Park Boulevard. She said she pulled up to the packed gas station just after 1 p.m. and was carjacked before she even reached the pump.
"I said, 'my baby! My dog is in the car!' I just was screaming," Zorana said.
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