Woman Offers Hefty Reward for Missing Chihuahua

It's been about nine months since Newport Beach resident Carole Rudat's Chihuahua Romeo went missing. Now she's digging deep into her pockets in hopes of getting him back.

Rudat, who works at Coldwell Banker in Corona del Mar, said Romeo was last seen in August 2010 in the backyard of her home in Orange. "It's been horrible since he has been gone," she said. "People have told me that they have seen him here and there, but I have yet to find him."

Since he went missing, Rudat has posted fliers, signs, walked various neighborhoods in search of Romeo and has hired two private detectives. So far she has had no luck.

"I've received several calls from people who have dogs that match the description, but Romeo has never turned up. I don’t believe they killed him. I know he is out there somewhere," Rudat said.

She is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the safe return of her dog, $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of  each person involved or with knowledge of the dognapping of Romeo, and a $100,000 reward, she says, for the conviction of any elected official involved with or with knowledge of Romeo’s dognapping. 

"This money is coming from me. We miss him so much and just want him back," Rudat said.

Description of Romeo

• Romeo is 4 years old 
  
  
• He is a 17 inches tall, thin Chihuahua, specifically known as a "deer type" Chihuahua. Romeo looks similar to a mini doberman or an Italian greyhound.
  
  
• His ears flop over.
  
  
• He is chocolate brown and white, with the white in the following areas: chest, neck (all the way around is a wide band of white), paws and partially up his legs, a triangle on his snout and a small mark on his forehead.
  
  

If you would like to help find Romeo, or if you need more information click here.