Police: Woman thought dog was her daughter’s, so she took it

COEUR d’ALENE — Call it a case of mistaken identity.

A woman who reportedly stole a dog Friday afternoon because she thought it was her missing daughter’s dog turned it over to police, who then returned it to its owner, a police spokesperson said Wednesday.

“I was so happy,” said Teresa Richardson, who initially reported that “Gi,” a 2.7-pound Chorkie, a cross between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier, was taken while she was shopping at Goodwill. “We were so grateful to have her back.”

Gi, about 18 months old, has been a loved family pet of Richardson’s son’s family. She often takes the dog on outings.

Police said the woman who took Gi told them she realized later that night she had made a mistake and then turned it in to police.

“She took it because she thought it was her daughter’s dog,” the police spokesperson said.

Richardson said Gi seemed fine and was happy to be home, running straight to her owner, Irene Kloos, and excitedly jumping around.

“You could tell she had been crying a lot,” Richardson said.

She said her son had reviewed video footage of the woman leaving the store with Gi and then driving away in a dark-colored SUV.

She said he drove around the area the suspect vehicle headed and thought he might have found it.

Richardson said she had doubts about the story of the woman who took Gi.

She guessed that perhaps the dog thief was worried she might get caught.

“She believed our dog was her dog so she took it for that reason?” she asked.

Regardless, Richardson said everyone is happy that Gi is home, the woman will not face any charges and Gi will be under closer watch at home.

“We decided she’s not going to go out on trips anymore,” Richardson said.