Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker Shot, Singer’s Two French Bulldogs Stolen!
Sad news came out of California as reports broke Thursday that the dog walker for superstar Lady Gaga had been
Ivy Griffith
Sad news came out of California as reports broke Thursday that the dog walker for superstar Lady Gaga had been shot and her beloved French bulldogs stolen. Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, was out of the country at the time.
Walker Shot, Dogs Stolen
People reports, “Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and hospitalized and two of her French bulldogs were stolen during a Wednesday night robbery, PEOPLE confirms.
A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson tells PEOPLE a robbery occurred at 9:40 Wednesday night on Sierra Bonita Avenue in Hollywood, during which two French bulldogs were stolen.
The male victim was transported to the hospital in unknown condition and the shooter, described as a male who used a semi-automatic handgun, was seen leaving in a vehicle going northbound toward Hollywood Boulevard.”
While Germanotta’s beloved Gustav and Koji were taken, it appears that her third bulldog Asia was able to escape and was recovered. NBC LA initially reported, “Police said two dogs were taken by the assailants, who left the location in a light-colored sedan, possibly a Nissan, police said. Video showed an officer at the scene holding a French bulldog in a blanket, but it was not immediately clear whether the dog was one of the dogs taken by the thieves or possibly a third dog.”
Gaga’s Beloved Bulldogs
This is especially heartbreaking news for Germanotta, who is very public about her love for her dogs. The pop star went viral in 2016 sharing an image of her welcoming her newest pup, Gustav, as Asia and Koji looked eagerly on. On Instagram, Germanotta shared, “I’m proud to announce we added a new member to the #JOANNE family I haven’t named him yet but I call him both cowpig and moopig in the meantime!”
Germanotta was gifted pup Asia in 2014 by then-fiance Taylor Kinney. One year later, the couple welcomed Koji. Gustav’s addition to the family was just another sign that Germanotta was, well, Gaga over her pups. It’s heartbreaking to know the pop star is left wondering over the fate of her fur family members.
Unfortunately Celebrity Dog Thefts are Not Unheard Of
Unfortunately, celebrity dogs being stolen is not entirely unheard of. Although some celebrities hang their hats on owning rescue dogs and the identity that comes with being the owner of a lovable mutt, just as many opt for select purebreds. Those pure bred pups can sometimes be worth several thousands of dollars, and breeding alone would net a crafty thief a hefty haul.
In 2019, singer Ray J’s adorable and beloved pomeranian, Boogotti, was stolen. The worried family offered $20,000 for the return of their pup.
That same year, soccer star David Sturridge had his pomeranian stolen. At the time, Sturridge issued pleas for his beloved and Instagram-famous dog; “‘I’ll pay anything,’ repeated Sturridge in a series of Instagram videos, which were posted on his page early Tuesday.
‘I want him back,’ said the former Liverpool striker. ‘Please.’”
And back in 2013, a weird series of exchanges from RHOBH star Brandi Glanville had fans confused as her dog Chica was stolen. And then quickly replaced by a new dog – Chico? In typical Glanville fashion, more questions were raised than answered by a series of tweets about her beloved dog’s disappearance.
Glanville tweeted at the time per Dogster, “‘My dog Chica is lost please help! Call me.’
‘I will give anyone who finds my dog chica in Bel air, La, Encino area 10 thousand dollars. Please please. She has a collar call me!’
‘A little brown chihuawa mix, i cant spell. My boys will be devistated.’
Then, unfortunately, some pranksters began calling in phony sighting, so she set up an answering service for the dog.
‘My house was broken into one of my dogs is missing people R calling pretending 2 have her. This is devistating-I will pay money give her back’
‘Please please please dont call the number if you dont have dog information!!! Please!’
It was clearly a rough couple days for Brandi Glanville — her house broken into, her dog stolen. And then, out of the blue, she tweeted this:
‘We have a new family member until Chica comes back to us. His name is Chico’.”
Glanville later tweeted that the dog – the new dog – was renamed Chody. Co-star at the time Taylor Armstrong later called the entire incident into question, suggesting it was a publicity stunt. Glanville, however, was clearly heartbroken.
Germanotta is Offering a Reward
But in the less-weird present, worried pop star Gaga is currently in Italy and feeling helpless. However, Germanotta is offering a $500,000 reward the return of her precious fur babies. A source who spoke with CNN told the network, “[Germanotta] is offering half-a-million dollars to anyone who has her two dogs, no questions asked. Anyone who has the dogs can use this email, [email protected] to retrieve the reward.”
Although the fate of the pups remains unknown, the dog walker is said to be recovering nicely.