Soldier's beloved dog stolen off boat at Long Beach Marina

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- An Army soldier's beloved dog was stolen off a boat in Long Beach. Family members are doing everything possible to try and get him back.

"He's my best friend, he's part of our family," said Robert Pinney, who gets chocked up when he talks about Jake, a Pomeranian-Corgi mix.

That's because Jake helped get his niece, Britney, through a very tough time.

"On her 13th birthday, her mom died. They took a nap together and my sister never woke up," Pinney said.

Pinney said a short time later, three of Britney's friends died in a car crash. To help her cope with everything, her grandparents got her Jake at a shelter.

The two became inseparable, celebrating birthdays and Christmases together, until Britney left for college, then the Army, leaving Jake with her uncle.

"My promise was to her to take care of her dog, until she's ready to have him back, and now he's gone," Pinney said.

Pinney said on New Year's Eve, he left Jake inside his boat at the Long Beach Marina to get some food.

When he came back, he says all of the snaps were undone on the boat's cover, the window was open, and Jake was gone.

"Everyone's praying for Jake's return. I put it up on Craigslist, and we have no signs of him, no calls," Pinney said.

Lost and Found Paws in Los Angeles has also posted Jake's photo on their Facebook page.

Pinney has put up hundreds of signs. He leaves part of his boat open with Jake's food and water out, just in case he comes back.

He has one message for whoever might have the dog.

"We're not going to judge anybody. We're not going to try and cause any problems. We just want Jake's return. There's no questions asked," he said.