Family claims Uber Eats driver took their emotional support dog
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police are investigating after a Memphis woman reported that an Uber Eats driver who delivered an order to her home over the weekend drove away with her one-year-old emotional support dog, King.
Officers responded Saturday morning to a home on Fuller Road in the airport area after the dog, a 13-pound black male Shih Tzu, was reported missing. Photos of King have since been shared widely on Facebook as the family searches for him.
According to police, the woman ordered alcohol from Kings Liquor Store through the Uber Eats app. Around 10 a.m., a driver—identified only by his first name in the app—arrived to deliver the order.
The dog’s owner, Zenobia Savage, told police that when she stepped outside to retrieve the delivery, King followed her out the door. She said she noticed the driver petting the dog while she checked the order. Moments later, the driver drove away, and the dog was gone.
Savage later told WREG that she believes the driver took the dog.
“I saw him turn around with the dog and put him in the car,” Savage said. “I tried to tell the officer at the time, but there was so much going on. I was in disbelief and hurt and couldn’t think straight. Officers came right after it happened.”
Savage’s mother, Yolanda Savage, said she gave the dog to her daughter a little over a year ago when King was just nine weeks old.
Yolanda explained that her daughter is autistic and has epilepsy. She said King helps comfort her daughter and often senses when she is about to have a seizure.
“She’s not doing well at all,” Yolanda said. “She just had a seizure yesterday, and King was one of those dogs that would scratch at my door so I’d know something was wrong.”
The family told police they were able to identify the driver through Facebook. Officers reportedly took photos of the dog and the possible suspect from the victim’s cellphone.
Yolanda said they also filed a safety report with Uber Eats about the driver. She added that someone recently reported seeing a dog matching King’s description with a man on Airways Boulevard.
She is asking whoever has the dog to return him.
“She needs him. She’s very sick. She has epilepsy. Just bring my baby dog back, please, and don’t hurt him. She really needs him,” Yolanda said.
King was last seen wearing a purple collar with a tag that includes a phone number. He is not neutered and has some brown fur under his back legs.
The family said the Uber Eats driver was driving a gold Lexus.
Uber Eats said Wednesday that the company is still looking into the situation.
Anyone with information about the dog’s whereabouts is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH or 545-COPS.
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