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'Thor is safe!': Service dog inside SUV taken from Orlando hotel located in nearby apartment complex

By Dani Medina
Updated  May 2, 2024 9:24am EDT
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando

Stolen service dog reunited with owner

Thor is back home where he belongs. The service dog was stolen along with the SUV in which he was sitting when the vehicle was taken from an Orlando resort.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - An SUV with a service dog inside was stolen from a hotel near SeaWorld Orlando on Wednesday, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Hours later, the dog named Thor was located a short distance from the hotel. 

Deputies said that at around 1:30 p.m., a 2009 gray Kia Sorento with Thor inside was stolen from the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando on Westwood Blvd. While the SUV was not immediately recovered, Thor was found walking around a nearby apartment complex.

"Someone who saw him called our detective after seeing our social media post," the sheriff's office said in a post on social media. "Thor is now reunited with his very grateful human!"

A service dog was reported missing after the car he was in was stolen from a hotel near SeaWorld Orlando on May 1, 2024. (Photo: Orange County Sheriff's Office)

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"I assume that he just kept barking and they finally got tired and let him out," said Thor's owner, Gloria.

She said she parked her car at the Hilton Garden Inn Orlando, near SeaWorld, to run a quick work errand. She left the car running to keep Thor cool, but when she came back out, it was gone.

And so was Thor.

"I was in there literally no more than five minutes. I came back out, and my car was gone, and I started freaking out," she said. 

She started yelling for Thor and eventually called 911.

A few hours later, the sheriff’s office posted an alert on social media, along with pictures of Thor. Soon after, someone spotted Thor at the Vista Cay Resort and called the detective on the case.

Thor and Gloria were then reunited.

"He seemed to be overheated a little bit, but he is black, so the sun gets to him really quickly. But he was excited to finally see me," she said. "I just want to say thank you very much. You have no idea how much you saved me!"

 Gloria said the SUV is still missing, but she’s really just thankful to have Thor back.

The sheriff's office later said, "We would like to thank our community for your help in the fast and safe recovery of Thor."