GALLATIN, Tenn. -
A Middle Tennessee woman claims a couple who picked up her dog after he ran away from home earlier this month refuses to return the canine.
Amy Watson said her Beagle Lab mix, Amadeus, ran about a half-mile from her home to a nearby convenience store on July 4.
Watson told Nashville's News 2 Investigates Amadeus suffers from a skin condition on his neck so he was not wearing a collar at the time he disappeared.
Not only does the six-year-old dog serve as Watson's companion, he is also her second set of ears since she has 85% bilateral hearing loss.
Since his disappearance, Watson said she and her friends have spent time posting "Missing" posters.
Watson told Nashville's News 2 Investigates the last she heard, Amadeus was last spotted at the Sudden Service store located at Coles Ferry and Airport roads.
According to a police report, a store clerk reported a couple took the dog on July 6 and drove away in a four-door blue sedan.
Watson said she has given the clerks a poster of Amadeus.
They told police they passed the poster with Watson's contact information on to the couple.
They also reported the couple indicated they would call her and return the dog.
Watson said she waited patiently for several days but the couple never called so she filed a police report.
"I finally broke down and cried this morning. This is my furry son. At this point they have effectively stolen my dog and I hope they are taking care of him," she said.
"They have my information. I guess they fell in love with him like I did and just don't want to give him back," Watson continued. "It was [initially] a good act, and they took him in, to get him out of harms way, since then, it's been more than a week and had my info and now willfully withholding my property."
Gallatin police said they are searching for a blue four-door sedan and a blue pickup truck.
The couple who is believed to have Amadeus is said to live in Westmoreland.
Police said they could face misdemeanor theft charges.
Amadeus is micro chipped which will help identify him as Watson's pet.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Gallatin police at 615-452-1313.
