Nation & World News

Elvis fans' dog stolen on pilgrimage to Graceland

Jan 12, 2015

A Canadian couple visiting Memphis to celebrate Elvis' birthday last week didn't even have a chance to check into their hotel when their beloved Yorkshire Terrier, Dixie, was stolen. 
"We stopped to have dinner, we came out and he had broke into our truck and stole our dog," said Lorie Travis, "The dog didn't do anything. I don't understand."

It happened last Wednesday at a restaurant on Elvis Presley Boulevard in Whitehaven, Tennessee. Lorie's husband, Travis, said they were in the restaurant 45 minutes; they came out and saw the shattered car window and no Dixie. 

"Why'd we bother coming here? I would never come back here, I'll tell you that," he said.

The suspects are still on the run. Memphis police describe them as two black males occupying a late model gold or tan Nissan Altima or Maxima with a sunroof.

"I'm scared to leave our vehicle," said Lorie, "I mean, they smash it and everything else, like, you can't leave nothing in there. I'm scared."

The Alberta couple had not participated in Elvis' birthday activities or even visited Graceland. Instead, they are looking for Dixie and getting their car repaired.

The Travises are offering a cash reward for Dixie's return, no questions asked.

"I picked her when she was a tiny baby. She sat in the palm of my hand," said Lorie, "And I carried her in my jacket everywhere we went ... to airplanes, everything. She's been to everywhere with us. We don't leave her."

This welcome has the couple planning to never return to Memphis.

"It just turned me right off to coming back. I'll never come back," said Lorie, "Never."

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