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Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs found after being stolen by men who shot dog walker in chest

Written by on 28/02/2021

Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs have been found safe and unharmed – two days after being stolen at gunpoint in Los Angeles.

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Koji and Gustav were handed in at LAPD’s Olympic Community Police Station on Friday evening by a woman who appears to be “uninvolved and unassociated” with the armed robbery.

It isn’t clear how she came to have the animals, but both dogs have now been safely reunited with the pop star’s representatives.

“I can confirm that the dogs have been located and are safe,” Captain Jonathan Tippet said.

Her friend Ryan Fischer, who was shot while walking her three dogs, is expected to make a full recovery. A car had pulled up alongside him, with the men inside demanding he hand over the animals.

All three dogs were initially taken – but Miss Asia managed to escape and was recovered safely soon afterwards.

Gaga had been offering $500,000 (£360,000) for their safe return – and had written in a previous Instagram post that she was praying for their safe return because her “heart is sick”.

No arrests have been made, but detectives are now appealing for help finding two men in their 20s who are wanted for questioning in connection with the attack.

They said the woman who handed the dogs in, and the location of where they were found, will remain confidential “due to the active criminal investigation and for her safety”.

It is not clear if she will receive the reward money but Lady Gaga had said it was on offer with “no questions asked” if her dogs were returned, something police criticised as they said it incentivised other criminals to steal celebrity dogs and return them for exorbitant sums.

According to police, Mr Fischer had attempted to fight off the armed robbers – and one of the men was wielding a semi-automatic handgun.

In graphic footage of the moment he was attacked, he was heard repeatedly screaming: “Oh my god! I’ve been shot!”

He also cried “Help me!” and “I’m bleeding from out of my chest!”.

Charley Walters, whose security cameras filmed the incident, said his boyfriend Carlos Pantoja called 911 – and they waited at the dog walker’s side for police to arrive.

Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, is currently in Rome where she is shooting Sir Ridley Scott’s film about the Gucci fashion industry.

She said: “I continue to love you Ryan Fischer, you risked your life to fight for our family. You’re forever a hero.”

In a statement, Ryan’s family said that he had been the victim of a “horrible, violent crime” – but praised the “extraordinary care” that the 30-year-old was receiving in hospital.

His loved ones added: “We cannot possibly say enough to thank all of the first responders, nurses and doctors who have worked so tirelessly to care for Ryan.

“Of course, we also want to thank Lady Gaga who has shown nothing but non-stop love and concern for Ryan and our family right from the outset.

“Ryan loves Gustav and Koji as much as Lady Gaga does.”

(c) Sky News 2021: Lady Gaga’s French bulldogs found after being stolen by men who shot dog walker in chest