Stolen dog, Julio, reunited with owner after 10 months of searching

CHARLOTTE, NC — For ten months, Jayla Gittens searched the city. Putting up flyers, offering rewards and doing countless interviews with the media.

“I just really want my dog,” Gittens told WCCB in April of 2025.

In those ten months, it was a lot of waiting, worrying and wondering… where is Julio?

Gittens may never get that answer. What she did get is her dog back.

“I’ve never been so happy to have my dog in my face with a toy and trying to get my attention. It doesn’t even really feel real,” Gittens told WCCB’s Gary Brode.

This all started in April when Gittens car was stolen from a north Charlotte apartment complex with Julio inside. She says a group of kids, under 16, were arrested for the theft but they never gave up Julio’s location.

“I didn’t realize it would be so difficult to go through, like the legal or the criminal process to get to that point,” said Gittens.

Gittens sued the parents of three of the kids she says were responsible for Julio’s disappearance. She said they had until February 6th to return the dog or be fined. One week before the deadline, Julio showed up outside of the Animal Care & Control shelter in the bitter cold. ACC tells WCCB they checked the surveillance video of the night Julio was found. Unfortunately, nothing showed up.

“I don’t think it was a coincidence. I’ll say that,” Gittens said of the timing.

Julio was found malnourished. Weighing half of his normal weight. Other than that, he’s been given a clean bill of health and now Gittens and Julio can make up for a lot of lost time.

“It feels like I can finally exhale,” said Gittens.