HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Ely Betancourt believes thieves cut through his chain link fence to snatch four of his Great Dane puppies.
Betancourt said he went outside to find four empty kennels in his Homestead backyard off 248th Street and 202nd Avenue. The already massive pups were nowhere to be found.
"You can't imagine because they are puppies and you can't even think that somebody would come inside the yard and steal your puppies from you," Betancourt said.
Betancourt has been training Great Danes for about 20 years along with a co-owner. They had just begun training the four show dogs in his double fenced-in yard.
Betancourt said police were called and located the cut in his fence. They also found small hot dogs in the dog's cages, likely to keep them quiet.
The trainer and breeder, Kathleen Fennell, said they are desperate to find the dogs now.
Both said the pups need so much attention, medical care and exercise.
Fennell said the four stolen dogs -- named Cohiba, Cognac, Smooth and Uno -- are only 5 months old.
Fendane Great Danes and KOC Great Danes, the organization that bred the pups, are hoping anyone who may know where the Great Danes are will contact them at 239-209-8052.
All the pups have microchips.
The owner of the puppies is offering up to $20,000 for any information leading to the recovery of the four stolen Great Danes.