North Harris County family says puppy stolen from backyard, sheriff investigates

A motion-activated backyard camera captured the moment two women dug under a fence, reached through with food and lured away a Great Pyrenees puppy named Oso, leaving a North Harris County family grieving a loss they say happened just hours before their 18-year-old owner’s birthday.

The family says Oso had been with them for only about a week when he vanished on April 19, 2026. Video reportedly showed the women first scouting the backyard from a neighboring apartment complex around 8 p.m., then returning about an hour later to start digging beneath the fence until they created enough room to pull the puppy closer.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft, which was first reported publicly on April 27. The family told ABC13 Houston that the act felt like breaking up a family, and said they believe Oso was taken deliberately. Luke Jones, identified by the family as the dog’s owner, said he would not press charges if the puppy is safely returned.

The case has struck a nerve in a county where the sheriff’s office says it serves more than 4.1 million residents across 1,788 square miles and 41 incorporated municipalities. HCSO says it has nearly 5,100 employees and 200 volunteer reservists, and it uses public alerts and social media to push breaking news, missing-person notices, wanted-suspect information and crime-prevention updates.

For pet owners across North Harris County, the video is a stark reminder that backyard theft can happen in minutes when a fence has a weak spot. A yard should be checked for loose boards, low gaps and places where an animal can be distracted near a boundary. Recent photos, vet records and clear proof of ownership can also help if a pet disappears, especially in a case where surveillance video shows exactly how the theft happened.

Crime Stoppers of Houston is asking anyone with information to call 713-222-TIPS. The family’s hope is simple: that Oso comes home before the case turns into another local loss with no recovery.