A woman claims that her dog was stolen from her yard, only for her to later find the man who allegedly stole it at Kroger. The catch? He wanted $1,500 to return it.
In a video with over 25 million views, TikTok user Destiné (@_quietlydope) shows a man holding a dog.
“My dog was stolen out of my Fence,” the TikToker writes in the text overlaying the video. “I randomly saw this man with my dog at Kroger and he told me $1500 to get her back.”
Thinking quickly, Destiné told the man that her mother would arrive shortly with the money—but, in reality, she called the police.
The video ends with a still image of the man, still holding the dog, talking to the police.
How did she find her stolen dog?
Soon after this video went viral, Destiné posted a follow-up video explaining how this bizarre situation came to be.
According to the TikToker, she had let her dog outside into her fenced-in backyard to use the bathroom. Not hearing him bark to come back inside as usual, she looked in the backyard to see where he went—only to discover that the fence door was open.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, my dog’s gone,’” the TikToker recalls.
Worried, she made “missing dog” flyers and began handing them around the neighborhood, offering a reward for whoever found the dog. Several days passed, and so, she decided that she was going to “give it to God” and go on a water fast.
“I’m like, ‘God, it’s on you, whether I’m supposed to let my dog go, whether I’m gonna get her back,’” the TikToker recalls. “‘I’m gonna fast to get clarity on what I’m supposed to be doing right now, because being depressed…I can’t do it right now.”
After three days of fasting, the TikToker’s daughter had a hair appointment, and so, she went to a 7-Eleven to pull out cash. The ATM had an error and would not dispense money, and so, she walked into a nearby Kroger. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she walked inside.
What Was the Dog Carrier’s Explanation?
As she entered Kroger, she saw a man with a Yorkie. Despite the fact that she lived 30 minutes away from this Kroger, she knew instantly that the man was holding her dog.
“I see the man. I’m like, ‘That’s my dog.’ I’m like, ‘Where did you get that dog from? That’s my dog.’ He’s like, ‘Ma’am, it’s not your dog. I bought this dog,’” Destiné says. “I’m like, ‘OK, I feel that, but this is my dog. Who did you buy that dog from? That’s my dog. It was stolen out of my yard on Wednesday.’”
After a bit of back-and-forth, the man claimed that he paid $1,500 for the dog. Upon pressing for more information, the man stated that he bought it from a white woman who was a “crackhead.” This woman allegedly approached him while he was sitting in his car, asked if he would like to buy a dog for $1,500, and he said yes and paid the money, thus bringing the dog into his possession.
Needless to say, Destiné had her doubts about the authenticity of this story.
“First of all, a crackhead is gonna sell you a dog for $20—especially if they’re not losing nothing from it, they didn’t buy the dog, or they didn’t lose no money,” the TikToker details.
In response, Destiné said that her mom would arrive with the money to get the dog back. In reality, the TikToker called the police.
After a short wait, however, Destiné told the man that it was, in fact, the police who were coming. The man decided to wait for the police and tell his side of the story, a move that Destiné describes as “honorable.”
What Happened When the Police Arrived?
After the cops showed up, the TikToker says both she and the man shared their sides of the story. Destiné’s side had a fair bit more evidence.
“The dog is squirming to get out of his arms and get to me. The police can see that,” the TikToker shares. “I have over 700 pictures of my dog. I’ve had it for three years. I showed the police my entire album from the day I got her till the day she left, what she was wearing when she left and everything. I showed him the missing poster.”
The police were convinced.
“They’re like, ‘Sir, this is her dog,’” Destiné recounts. “They were like, ‘We understand that you paid for her, but you got swindled.’”
To close her video, Destiné thanks God for bringing her dog back, saying that she is “so happy” to have him back.
@_quietlydope ♬ original sound – Destined Destiné
Commenters Aren’t Buying the Man’s Story
While the police appeared to take the man’s story at face value, commenters questioned his narrative while celebrating alongside Destiné that she got her dog back.
“He did not buy the dog from anyone,” wrote a user. “He will come back! Get a lock for your gate and cameras!”
“I would place a restraining order on him immediately bc he knows where you live now,” echoed another. “This is why I pay top dollar and live in a gated community and have a high HOA to prevent this. Wishing you the best of luck and microchip here immediately.”
“Make sure she’s microchipped! and get her an airtag to put on her collar or harness,” offered a third.
In another video, Destiné affirmed that she was now installing cameras and planned to get an AirTag for her dog.
The Mary Sue reached out to Destiné via Instagram and TikTok direct message.
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