Candy's doggie bed and the toy Eloisa Martinez gave her this past Christmas, sit idle in Martinez’s living room.
Candy is a half yorkie-half poodle dog that Martinez has loved like a child, for the past eight years.
A heartbroken Martinez said her pooch was stolen from her vehicle on January 10, during a trip to Wal-Mart in San Benito.
"I parked in the disabled space, I just went in and came out,” Martinez said.
“By the time I came out, she was gone - and I kept calling her, ‘mamma don’t scare me like that.’"
San Benito police are investigating the case, and Martinez said that based on store surveillance video, police believe it was a heavy-set couple that used a hanger to pop-open her car door, and made off with her dog in a blue van.
One of Martinez’s daughter's died of a heart condition four years ago, and her other daughter lives out of state - Candy is her only companion.
“She doesn't like it when I cry, she starts licking me, licking my face,” a tearful Martinez said about her dog. “And I give her treats...I hug her."
At 70 years old, Martinez suffers from a heart condition, and said the heartache of losing her dog is taking its toll.
"It's breaking my heart so much (and) I’m trying so hard to control myself because I don’t want to get sick,” Martinez said.
“Please, please I won’t ask any questions just bring her home. Let her come home to me - I need her so much.”
Martinez said close friends have donated money for a cash reward of $500 for Candy’s safe return – no questions asked.
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