Lady Gaga offers $500K for stolen dogs after dog walker shot in armed robbery
Nancy Loo and Ji Suk Yi
LOS ANGELES (NewsNation Now) — Lady Gaga is offering a $500,000 reward for the return of her French bulldogs that were stolen in Hollywood after her dog walker was shot during an armed robbery.
The dog walker suffered one gunshot wound Wednesday night and is expected to survive his injuries, according to Los Angeles Police Capt. Jonathan Tippett, commanding officer of the department’s Robbery-Homicide Division.
Tippett confirmed to The Associated Press that the dogs belong to singer and actress Lady Gaga. The man was walking three of Gaga’s dogs at the time but one escaped. It’s not yet clear if the dog walker was targeted because of his celebrity client, the captain said.
A photo of Lady Gaga from November 2016 where she gets a third dog to join her family. Instagram photo via @LadyGaga
A photo of Lady Gaga and her dogs from January 2017. Instagram photo via @LadyGaga
A photo of Lady Gaga celebrating her dog Koji’s 2nd birthday from January 2017. Instagram photo via @LadyGaga
A view of the site where Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and two of her dogs were stolen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Steven Lazaroff, a friend of Lady Gaga’s dog walker who was shot and had two of her dogs stolen, speaks to the media in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
FILE – This June 28, 2019 file photo shows Lady Gaga performing in the second annual Stonewall Day honoring the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, hosted by Pride Live and iHeartMedia in New York. Officials say Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and her two French bulldogs stolen in Hollywood during an armed robbery. Los Angeles police are seeking two suspects, thought it’s not known if both were armed, in connection with the Wednesday night shooting. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP, File)
Residents speak to the media after Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and two of her dogs were stolen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
FILE PHOTO: Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala – Met Gala – Camp: Notes on Fashion- Arrivals – New York City, U.S. – May 6, 2019 – Lady Gaga. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
A view of the site where Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and two of her dogs were stolen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
A police officer speaks to a resident after Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and two of her dogs were stolen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
FILE – Lady Gaga, winner of the award for best original song for “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”, poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Officials say Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and her two French bulldogs stolen in Hollywood during an armed robbery. Los Angeles police are seeking two suspects, thought it’s not known if both were armed, in connection with the Wednesday night shooting. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
A view of the site where Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and two of her dogs were stolen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 25, 2021. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
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The source close to Lady Gaga, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Reuters, confirmed the offered reward were for dogs Koji and Gustav; and said the singer was urging anyone who has the dogs to contact the email kojiandgustav@gmail.com to return the dogs and retrieve the reward, no questions asked.
The victim, Ryan Fischer, 30, was walking the dogs on a street off the famed Sunset Boulevard when a four-door sedan pulled up and two men tried to steal the animals, Tippett said. Fischer tried to fight off the men but was then shot by a semiautomatic handgun during the struggle.
Video Credit: TMZ
“I just tried to see him at the hospital but they weren’t accepting visitors. But I heard that he was shot in the chest four times last night, and that they took two of the dogs, and that he held onto Asia, the black Frenchie,” Steven Lazarav, a friend of Fischer said.
Asia the Frenchie was unharmed and recovered from the scene by police. She was later picked up by one of Lady Gaga’s security guards.
Gaga, whose recent performances included singing the national anthem at President Joe Biden’s inauguration last month, has been in Rome filming a movie.
According to the American Kennel Club, French Bulldogs are among the top five in popular breeds. They are usually worth thousands and due to high demand there is a booming black market.
The Associated Press, Reuters and Nexstar Media Wire contributed to this report.
