Columbia, SC – Scotty Johnson has a landscaping business and takes his 11 year old dog Kayla to work with him every day. On Saturday, he left his truck running with Kayla asleep inside while doing some work at a residence. The truck was stolen and now Mr. Johnson is heartbroken:
“She is so special,” said Johnson. “I mean, I talk to her. I know it’s stupid. But she understands everything I say. If she can’t find me, she will run everywhere, trying to find me, just going crazy.”
[…]
“She ain’t a dog. She’s my kid, and like I told my wife, it’s like I am letting my daughter down. I left my truck running with her in it. And they’re gone. I let her down,” said Johnson.
The truck has since been located but the trailer with Mr. Johnson’s landscaping equipment was not attached. And Kayla was nowhere to be found:
If you have any information you are encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Or you can email News 19 reporter Nate Stewart at: NJSTEWART@WLTX.COM
Update, 3:30pm: There is no happy ending. Kayla has been found dead at the side of the freeway.
I know exactly the hurt he feels. I once shared life with a 9 year old German Shepherd, went to work with me daily, we were ALWAYS together, until the day he went missing from my front porch. Kidnapped, right out from under my nose.
I was as heartbroken as Johnson so I completely understand. No one else seemed to grasp the magnitude of the loss of my son. There was no web for help in his recovery, police didn’t even take a report, MAS was just as indifferent and family/friends didn’t so much as lift a brow. I was devistated.
I do so much hope Scotty recovers Kayla soon. It is every bit as bad as kidnapping your child & nothing will fill the hole left in the heart but her return.
Post photos everywhere. Let us know when she is home.
How horrible…I cannot imagine the sense of loss he feels. That is happening more and more frequently. There’s a 6-lb Yorkie, Marley, who was taken in a home burglary last month in California . The family is offering a $5,000 for her return, no questions asked. And there was another that was taken when a car was stolen and the Yorkie was inside. If you google “dogs stolen in burglary”, it is heartbreaking to see how many there are. I pray that his ‘son’ will come home safely. My heart goes out to him.
Oh… let me correct that. Not his son, but his sweet daughter. We have to have faith that Kayla maybe just ran away and someone will find her and bring her home.
Having a dog stolen is one of the worst things I can imagine. I hope and pray Kayla is safely returned.
Oh God, I’m so sorry. Collateral damage. I HATE that. I rarely lock my car because there is usually an animal in it, and if something were to happen, I’d want ANYBODY to be able to help them if I am not there. Most people will show compassion to a non-human animal.
I rarely leave my vehicle running (even at minus 40F) and the ONE time our truck was stolen was when it was left running and there were no dogs in the vehicle. (It was minus 50F)…got the truck back, but I didn’t get my check book and credit cards and ID back until five months later when somebody found them in the ditch during clean up day.
He was recently found dead on I-77 in Cola- Very sad and tragic
Wait…who was found dead? You said he? Kayla was a girl. Was Kayla found dead? How sad. Did they say how?
Oh no, just saw the update above. Does anybody know how it happened? I hope they find the person who stole the truck and are able to file charges in her death some way.
I am so sorry for Mr. Johnson. I hope they find whoever stole Kayla and prosecute them to the max. Whether directly or indirectly, they are the reason Kayla is dead and Mr. Johnson has to endure this grief.
Kayla was probably forced out of the truck & wandered into traffic. I think sometimes dogs will walk into traffic thinking cars will stop for them. Kayla may of been trying to get attention from anyone to get her back home.
This is too sad & didn’t have to happen. The selfishness of a thief is bad enough, but to also take the dog & dispose of her on the streets shows no conscience. That’s the type of person we have to share this country with?
I will be the first to pitch in for an adoption from his local shelter, when Scotty is ready, for another companion. Kayla can never be replaced, but there IS another life waiting for him & I’m sure Kayla would want another dog to be saved like Scotty did for her.
Anyone willing to start the “Chip-In” for Scotty? Let’s hear about it.
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RIP Kayla
Condolences to those who grieve your passing.
This is a tragedy beyond understanding.