Car thief steals a Honda Accord with a emotional support animal on board, leaves owner with a broken heart
Car thieves make off with a vehicle in the United States nearly twice per minute. Unfortunately, the crime of car theft deprives owners of more than just their wheels. Vehicle owners lose valuable property, sensitive information, or worse. Tragically, one Houston car theft resulted in a criminal driving off with a woman’s emotional support animal in addition to her Honda Accord.
A Texas woman suffered minor injuries when a car thief stole her car, her property, and her beloved emotional support animal
Chelsea Vogler drove her red 2013 Honda Accord to a convenience store near the Montrose area of Houston, Texas. She parked her car and entered the store to ask the proprietor for directions. Her red Honda sedan was idling in the parking lot when a car thief took advantage of the running car and hopped in.
She quickly approached her Accord and told the thief to get out of the car. He refused, choosing instead to put the vehicle in reverse and attempt an escape. Vogler held onto the door as he did. She suffered minor injuries from the event, including cuts and facial bruises.
Tragically, the running car contained Vogler’s treasured dog, Isabella. Isabella, a 9-year-old Maltese mix is Vogel’s emotional support animal (ESA). According to KHOU 11, Vogler microchipped the dog. It’s a common tactic to help recover an animal should they become lost or stolen.
Vogler was understandably terrified about the condition of her dog. Isabella, or “Izzy,” was born with a compromised lung. As a result, Vogler catered to the little dog’s health issues. As of January 6, 2025, police haven’t located the vehicle or the dog.
Now, support animals have been a source of debate recently. For instance, a passenger on a small commercial airplane recently brought a Great Dane onto a flight in a support capacity. A Great Dane, a large breed of dog, can weigh well over 100 lbs and take up a lot of space in a cramped aircraft. Instances like these spark debates over whether the size and type of animal should factor into ESA registration.
However, the merits of ESAs are evident. A person with a mental health condition like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or severe anxiety can benefit from the comforting presence of a trained companion.
