Monica Lopez started the Thanksgiving holiday happy, surrounded by her children and grandchildren when it turned into a tragedy.
Lopez said the thieves took about $2,000 meant for her mortgage payment and sentimental jewelry.
But all of that pales in comparison to the loss of her canine companion, her American Boxer named Rocky.
With a broken heart, Lopez leans into her faith for comfort.
“He’s a wonderful boy. Both languages. He understands,” Lopez said, referring to Rocky.
Lopez said she left Rocky in the backyard on Thursday afternoon to spend Thanksgiving at her daughter’s house in Hesperia.
When she returned with her grandson around 10 p.m., the back gate was open.
She searched the house and found her bedroom in shambles.
The alleged thieves took an estimated $2,000 dollars meant for her mortgage payment along with sentimental jewelry, including her wedding ring from her marriage of 57 years to her late husband Arturo.
Her son, who asked not to be identified, said he thinks Rocky scared off the thieves and kept them from stealing even more.
“Neighbors say they saw him running down the street with two people towards that area where he was found,” he said.
Rocky was spotted just a few blocks away, laying on the side of the road with trauma to his head. He died later that night at animal control.
The family is raising money online, looking to help replace what’s been lost.
But for now, the 76-year-old is grateful for the love from her five children and 15 grandchildren who are still here.
And she cherishes the memory of her four-legged angel who died defending the home he loved.
Lopez filed a formal report with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Thanksgiving. She said detectives told her they plan to return to her home on Monday to continue collecting evidence.
NBC4 has reached out to LASD for more details but have not yet heard back.
Source: NBC Los Angeles