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Lady Gaga’s father is ‘just sick’ over dognapping: ‘It’s like someone took one of your kids’

‘Just try to be strong and remember that they’re together,’ Joe Germanotta said he told the singer

Rachel Brodsky
Los Angeles
Thursday 25 February 2021 19:41 GMT
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Lady Gaga's dog walker has been shot four times in the chest

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Lady Gaga’s father has spoken out about the dognapping of his daughter's two French bulldogs, Koji and Gustavo, who were stolen at gunpoint.

“We’re just sick over it, it’s really horrible,” Joe Germanotta told The New York Post. “It’s like someone took one of your kids.”

Germanotta said that his daughter, who is currently in Italy, had spoken with him “several times” about the incident.

“Just try to be strong and remember that they’re together,” Germanotta said he told Gaga. “They’re comforting each other.”

A dog walker for Lady Gaga, 30-year-old Ryan Fischer, was shot four times in the chest before two men stole two of the singer’s three French bulldogs, according to multiple reports.

Los Angeles Police confirmed that a shooting occurred in West Hollywood shortly before 10 pm local time on Wednesday (24 February), with the victim rushed to hospital.

A third French bulldog, Miss Asia, was recovered at the scene by police.

The shooting suspect, who used a semi-automatic handgun, left the scene in a white Nissan car, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Lady Gaga is offering $500,000 for the return of her dogs “no questions asked”, according to TMZ.

The singer’s team has already set up the email address kojiandgustav@gmail.com for any information on the missing dog.

An LAPD spokesperson said that French bulldogs are in high demand in Los Angeles and a valuable breed.

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As for Fischer, a spokesperson for the LAPD said that his condition is unknown, but a source close to Gaga toldPage Six that he “is thankfully recovering well”.

The Independent has reached out to representatives of the singer for comment.

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