Whenever Diane Newman returns home, her son Jamal asks whether she brought Cody back. The Shih Tzu disappeared outside a North Philadelphia store on Oct. 18, and the family has received no reported confirmation that he has been found.
Cody had been tied to a pole while Newman’s boyfriend went inside the corner store at West Berks and Van Pelt streets. Surveillance evidence obtained by NBC10 shows two people taking the dog, but the available accounts do not identify them or provide their explanation.
The distinction matters because no Philadelphia police update has confirmed whether a report was filed, whether an investigation is underway or whether authorities have classified the incident as theft. There also has been no reported arrest.
For Newman, the search is centered on what Cody means to Jamal. Her son has cerebral palsy, cannot walk and relies on her for daily care. She described Cody as his constant companion and a source of friendship and comfort.
“Cody being missing is taking a toll on us. It’s taking a toll on us. Every time I go out the door, he is asking me, did you bring my dog back yet?” Newman said.
Newman has continued appealing to the two people seen taking Cody and to anyone who may know where he is. She said she will not give up trying to recover him.
What remains unknown
The family’s account leaves several important questions unanswered. It is not known whether Cody is microchipped or licensed, and no official channel specific to tips about his disappearance has been announced.
Those missing details limit what can be verified about the search. A microchip does not track a dog’s location, but registry information can help connect an identified animal with an owner. The Pennsylvania SPCA advises owners of microchipped missing pets to notify the registry and make sure their contact information is current.
For Philadelphia pets, the Pennsylvania SPCA also directs owners to report the animal through Petco Love Lost and visit the Animal Care & Control Team of Philadelphia in person. New animals arrive at shelters regularly, so the organization recommends checking repeatedly rather than relying only on photographs or telephone calls. Its full guidance is available on the Pennsylvania SPCA’s lost-pet page.
Someone who finds a dog matching Cody’s description can file a found-pet report and contact ACCT Philly for next steps. The Pennsylvania SPCA says its locations and most veterinary clinics can scan a found animal for a microchip, often at no charge. It also recommends requiring proof of ownership before releasing a found pet to someone who claims it.
ACCT Philly, the city’s animal-control organization, is open seven days a week and provides a lost-and-found channel through its official hours and directions page. That is a public reporting route for people who find a dog in Philadelphia, though authorities have not said whether Cody has entered the shelter system.
Newman’s appeal remains direct: “Can you please bring my son his dog back? That’s all he has. He doesn’t have any more friends. Some people can have an option in life. My son don’t have that choice.”
For now, the central question is unresolved. Cody has not been reported returned, and Jamal continues waiting for the companion his mother says brought him comfort and friendship.
What would you do if your dog were in this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
By Sarah Mitchell — 8 years as a local-news reporter covering animal welfare, shelters, neighborhood disputes, and public-safety pet stories.
