DALLAS — Cowboys wide receiver Lucky Whitehead has been reunited with his pitbull Blitz after burglars took the dog and demanded a $10,000 ransom.
Tuesday morning, the NFL player posted a short video on Snapchat thanking everyone for their help in bringing the dog home ESPN reported.
Whitehead told NBC 5 in Dallas that he was in Florida last week when Blitz was taken from his Texas home, along with some shoes and bags.
Whitehead had since received phone calls demanding he “cut a check” if he wants to get Blitz back alive, but he refused to pay $10,000 without first getting proof that Blitz is OK.
Whitehead reportedly paid the kidnapper but the amount was not disclosed.
[protected-iframe id=”d231280672445e952e8749e8357b2626-29519520-83897481″ info=”//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js” class=”instagram-media”]
Whitehead called the situation “heartbreaking” and “sickening,” saying “it hurts because I don’t know how he’s being treated. I wasn’t here to protect him.”
The 25-year-old Whitehead tried to get detectives on the case, but they were unable to trace the dognappers’ phones. Whitehead said he suspects the heist was “an inside job” and plans to talk to some people close to him.
Whitehead brought Blitz home nine weeks ago and has created an Instagram account for the pup, including photos of him in superhero costumes and a Cowboys shirt.
[protected-iframe id=”f7540b0461feac175e8dbbbed739ba01-29519520-83897481″ info=”//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js” class=”instagram-media”]