A veteran in Downey, California is still missing his service dog after she was stolen at a gas station on Saturday night.
Apolonio Munoz, an army veteran who said he was long in denial about his PTSD, brought Marcee, the 10-year-old pup into his life to help ease some of his post-war pain.
"There's days I just don't want to get out of bed to be quite honest," Munoz told KABC, "Since I've had her, she's like no, you need to get up and let me out. And when it's time to go to work, she's like, OK let's go."
But on Saturday night, Munoz left his car running at an AMPM store with his pup inside, while he ran in to get a drink. He said he left Marcee in the car with the air conditioning on because her service dog vests and tags were left at home.
"Not even in the store 5 minutes and come back out and she's gone," he said. "I miss her so much."
His red Honda Civic coupe was stolen with Marcee still inside.
Marcee is microchipped, but Munoz says he has had no luck finding her so far, having checked with local shelters and Downey police.
"At this point, if someone just turns her in somewhere - no questions asked. I just want her home," he said.
Photo: Apolonio Munoz III, Facebook.