
Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot while walking her dogs – is in critical condition
Fresh off her critically-acclaimed inauguration performance where she charmed both the Marines and viewers alike, the Star Is Born actress had terrible news last night. An LA Police Department spokesperson told People magazine that a heist happened at 9:40 Wednesday night in Hollywood, the result of which one man was shot and two French bulldogs were taken — Lady Gaga’s bulldogs.
The sequence of events sound terrifying. According to AP reports, the victim, whose name has not been disclosed to the media, was out walking with the dogs when a car pulled over and two men tried to take the animals, law enforcement said.
Lady Gaga's dogs were targeted by thieves last night. The thieves shot her dog walker and stole 2 of her French Bulldogs.
🔗: https://t.co/DJIPtcS0TI pic.twitter.com/mCq5bFzGjs
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) February 25, 2021
The dog walker tried to fight both of them off and was shot by one of the men brandishing a semiautomatic weapon during the confrontation. It’s not yet known if both suspects had guns.
AP Entertainment tweeted that a third dog was able to escape the robbery.
Los Angeles police say someone shot Lady Gaga's dog walker and stole two of her French bulldogs. The dog walker was in serious condition. A third dog escaped the robbery in Hollywood on Wednesday night. https://t.co/XUflAEvy6S
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) February 25, 2021
One of Gaga’s Little Monsters fan accounts posted a Twitter video of the LAPD rescuing the scared doggo.
VIDEO: Lady Gaga’s dog Asia gets rescued by the LAPD. pic.twitter.com/NRTQV4s2je
— Little Monsters Community (@ladygaganowco) February 25, 2021
Gaga’s dog walker was transferred to the hospital and is now in critical condition, a police spokesman confirms. Law enforcement describes the shooter as a male with a semi-automatic handgun, who was seen fleeing in a car going northbound toward Hollywood Boulevard.
The LAPD’s robber and homicide division has taken over the situation; it has not yet been made clear if the dogs were targeted because they are owned by the singer.
A spokesperson for Lady Gaga, who is currently in Europe, confirms the victim was the musician’s dog walker and the two stolen animals are her French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav.
Back 2016, Gaga revealed to her fans that she’d adopted a new puppy.
“I’m proud to announce we added a new member to the #JOANNE family,” the singer shared on Instagram.
“I haven’t named him yet but I call him both cowpig and moopig in the meantime!” Gaga said in her post.
She later decided on the name Gustav.
In support of the singer, fans posted pictures and videos of Gaga with the dogs on Twitter.
Los Angeles: somebody shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker on Sierra Bonita and Sunset last night and stole two of her French bulldogs. We need to find Gustav and Koji. $500,000 reward for safe return. Email: [email protected] pic.twitter.com/meSPCWAcUi
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) February 25, 2021
Another fan posted a video in which Gaga seems to be rehearsing for her Super Bowl performance.
In an interview with People, Tara Bruno, founder of a New Jersey-based rescue organization, says French bulldogs are among the most stolen dog breeds because they’re very popular, are small and portable, and are expensive.
French bulldogs from reputable breeders can cost between $3,000 and $5,000, she told the magazine, “The motive is resale. Thieves know they can get a couple thousand dollars for them,” she says.
The dog walker is recovering well, according to CNN. Gaga has offered a $500,000 reward for information about her dogs. A Twitter user pointed out that the singer also considers the dog walker a friend and is ‘beside herself’ about the situation.
“Lady Gaga is beside herself about this situation. Ryan is not only her dog walker, but also her friend. She is horrified that this happened,“ a source tells ET. pic.twitter.com/ClC1BM93fI
— Gaga Daily (@gagadaily) February 25, 2021
Anyone with information about the case should email [email protected], Lady Gaga’s rep says.
A few people have taken to Twitter to say what they’d like to do to the suspects of the crime.
Me when i find the people that shot and stole Lady Gaga’s dogs pic.twitter.com/YY8Lux4Rc4
— Hassan Chammout (@ChammoutHassan) February 25, 2021