A French bulldog named “Bugsy” was recovered by Orange County Sherriff’s Office earlier in the month after it was stolen at gunpoint from its owner.
The owner, Johnny Matos, was walking Bugsy along Hiawassee Road in March 2021 when a man who was following him jumped out of his vehicle, threatened him with a gun, and took the dog.
After months of searching, Orange County was given a tip that Bugsy had been seen with a man named Ronnie Baker, who also happened to be connected to a pet store robberies in Manatee County and Largo. Baker would then allegedly take the dogs to a man named Bobby Rivera who would remove any microchips from the animals so they could be resold.
The Sherriff’s OFfice recovered nine dogs as part of the puppy “chop shop” operation and later found Bugsy with someone connected to the ring.
Bugsy was reconnected with his human and the Sherriff’s Office is pursuing charges against everyone involved in the dog theft ring.
