Puppy apparently stolen during burglary in Denver

DENVER - A Denver woman says someone stole her 11-week-old puppy during a burglary at her home on Friday, and she just wants her back, CBS Denver reported.

Sunni Nucci, a teacher at Mountain Range High School, said she left her home in Denver for no more than three hours Friday to go to the gym and run errands. When she returned home, she noticed a window was damaged and her back door was ajar. Her first thoughts were of Bella, the 11-week-old shih tzu/poodle mix she'd brought home three weeks ago.

"I just went in frantically searching everywhere, screaming for her," Nucci said.

The dog was gone. The burglar or burglars had stolen Nucci's jewelry, TV, and two laptop computers, but it's Bella that she is worried about.

Nucci posted photos of the puppy online hoping someone might see her photo and know where she is.

"I'm just panicked and sick. I can't imagine where she could be right now," she said. "Somebody's going to be showing off a new puppy and she's just a very distinctive beautiful puppy. I'm hoping that somebody will do the right thing and get her to the home that she's supposed to be."

Nucci said Denver police are investigating and recovered at least one fingerprint from the crime scene. It's unclear until test results come back whether that evidence will match whoever stole Bella.

Nucci thinks it's unlikely the dog walked out of the home and was lost. She thinks if that were the case a neighbor would have found Bella by now.