What is known is that a 2-year-old Goldendoodle named Noodle was allegedly “dognapped” from a Pacific Beach home in mid-day before being returned four days later.
The mysterious incident occurred Wednesday, April 10 shortly after noon. The incident was captured on the homeowner’s Ring security camera. Video showed a long-haired, somewhat heavy-set bearded man going through the unlocked front door, taking Noodle, then walking out with him while the homeowner was temporarily away.
What’s missing – and perplexing – is the back story to exactly how it all happened, and why. Also, subsequent social-media postings about Noodle’s alleged kidnapping netted oodles of responses on Instagram, and on Noodles’ and Social Pacific Beach Facebook pages. Even several “Free Noodle” memes were trending on local social media. On Monday, April 15, Noodle’s “dad,” Kevin Cho, told Beach & Bay Press, “I got him back yesterday evening.” In a CBS News 8 interview, Cho said Noodle had been recovered from Grants Pass, Ore.
Cho said his initial thought on finding Noodle gone was that “it was an April Fool’s joke by one of my friends.”
During the CBS News 8 interview, Cho said, after witnessing his security-camera footage, that he knew who stole his dog. “I called him repeatedly,” said Cho, adding, “I have no idea why he did it. This is baffling to me.”
Cho filed a police report. A friend of his then reached out to social media for help, posting on Next Door: “My friend’s dog was stolen yesterday and we need help finding the man who stole him. Pleeaassse help us if you can!”
CBS News 8 reported that social media posts about Noodle had been viewed “hundreds of times,” and that the video footage Cho released showing Noodle being taken was viewed “tens of thousands of times.”
Noodle has been described as a Pacific Beach “fixture.” The dog has his own Instagram account (@liondoodlenoodle) with more than 11,600 followers.
The Goldendoodle is a cross-breed dog obtained by breeding a Golden Retriever with a Poodle. The name, which alters “poodle” to “doodle,” was coined in 1992. Golden retrievers are considered a great family dog, which is why they have been used to cross breed with poodles.
The Goldendoodle is referred to as a designer dog, a term tracing its origin to the late 20th century when breeders began to cross purebred Poodles with other purebred breeds in hopes of obtaining a dog with the Poodle’s non-shedding coat, (though there is no guarantee they will inherit the coat of the poodle), along with various desirable characteristics from other breeds.
Cho told CBS News 8 he had no immediate plans for filing charges against the man who allegedly took his dog.
