2 accused of stealing dog from grooming facility, abandoning it in Mesa

A dog goes missing after being dropped off at the groomer, but it turns out, the animal was actually stolen.

Mesa Police arrested an employee at the grooming facility and her boyfriend, who admitted to taking the dog. There is, however, just one problem: they no longer had the animal.

Chrissy Willingham dropped off "Bebe" at Animal Clippers Grooming on Saturday near Higley and Brown. Shortly after, she received a call from the owner saying her dog had vanished.

On Thursday, Mesa Police arrested 20-year-old Izabella Bujanda, an employee at Animal Clippers, and her 20-year-old boyfriend, Anthony Barrera. According to police, Bujanda admitted to covering Bebe with a towel and handing the dog to her boyfriend, who was in a car behind the business.

Willingham said the duo told police they needed the money, and wanted to sell Bebe. Meanwhile, police said a decision was made to get rid of Bebe, after the story was getting attention on TV. The dog was allegedly released in the front yard of a home in a gated community near Power and Thomas roads.

"..after I got my nerves together, it turned from very sad, very emotional to anger because I have all of these groomers and bathers, but one of you know where my dog is or what happened to her," said Willingham.

Bebe is described as a Biewer Terrier, about 3 pounds, with white, black and brown hair. There is a $500 reward for her return.

If you have any information about this case, call Silent Witness at (480) WITNESS.