MTStreets’ Service Dog Disappears Showcasing the Rise of French Bulldog Burglaries

SUMMARY: MTStreets’ worst fear came true at 7:23 AM on February 6th when Stitch, his two-year-old French Bulldog, ran to a corner of the fenced-in backyard in Solana Beach, California. Stitch had just eaten breakfast and was alone, running around and playing in the enclosed backyard of his gated community. Security footage shows him being alerted by something or someone. He ran to a corner that didn’t have a camera and never came back. Stitch was gone.

French Bulldog thefts are on the rise across the country. Last year, Lady Gaga’s Frenchies, Koji and Gustav, were violently stolen from her dog walker. This year, there are daily news reports of French bulldog-nappings, and the police know why. French Bulldogs are smart, cute, relatively small and friendly. Best of all for criminals, they are valuable, often commanding thousands of dollars when resold.

But the story of Stitch doesn’t stop there. It’s more heartbreaking. Two years ago, MTStreets could not get out of bed after the tragic death of his 19-year-old brother, best friend, and only sibling, Bennett. Enter Stitch, a service puppy, whose primary purpose was to stitch MTStreets’ heart back together after the loss of his younger brother. How ironic that the dog meant to help emotionally heal MTStreets is now the source of more loss and pain.

Unlike the incident with Lady Gaga, whose Frenchies reunited back with her, the disappearance of MTStreets’ Stitch does not have a happy ending. Despite an exhaustive search and rescue attempt involving experts, tens of volunteers, and a $5,000 reward, there has been no trace of Stitch since he first went missing. MTStreets went door to door in the neighborhood, posted signs, used social media, and even hired ex-military experts to help search bushes, garages, golf courses, canyons, woods, and every potential place they could think of… No trace.

“I am in a state of shock and disbelief trying to piece together lessons or find something good from something so horrible,” says MTStreets, the rising pop star who’s feeling anything but his rising star now. “To other Frenchie owners I can share some painful lessons. Don’t leave your Frenchie unattended for even a second, which is another way to say treat Frenchies like newborns or toddlers.” “I should have used a pet tracker. Stitch has a microchip, but a chip is not enough. A pet tracker, even if it’s taken off by a thief, can provide more clues.”

When asked what’s next, MTStreets quickly says, “hope, prayer and music.” I’m not giving up, but with each passing day, I realize the likelihood that I will find Stitch keeps getting worse. I’m praying Stitch finds his way back home, and if he doesn’t, I am praying he ends up with someone kind. Last, I’m going back in the studio to grieve and to write songs that can help me get through this and maybe help others who are going through painful things too.”

MTStreets has learned to use music as therapy. His songs deal primarily with loss, hard aspects of life, and the idea that everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. Losing Stitch fits perfectly into those themes. So does his latest single “Highway to Hell,” recently released with Nova Blisto, someone MTStreets calls “the most talented person I know.” Several other singles are ready to be released in the next few months. “We’re getting ready for live performances in Miami during the end of 2022 and a 2023 European tour.”

Courage to expose vulnerability is one key to MTStreets’ success. He uses raw personal experiences of grief and loss to connect with listeners and create an environment that is therapeutic, offering listeners a feeling of inclusion that highlights some of the personal struggles that the artist himself has experienced. The music benefits both creator and listener, each of MTStreets’ songs, including “Highway to Hell,” highlights a specific part of his life. In addition, his lyrics touch on topics in such a manner that listeners gain a sense of calm and the idea that they are never alone.

The single “Highway to Hell” represents the work of an artist who has ridden on plenty of emotional highways and has a unique way of conveying a message of hope and understanding to his listeners. Written during one of the most painful times of his life, “Highway to Hell” deals with heartbreak, addiction and other topics that many of us struggle with during our young adult lives. We could consider the song a backdrop for stronger versions of ourselves.

Check out MTStreets on Instagram or the official MTStreets website for more information about MTStreets’ unique journey or to gain a deeper insight into his heart, talent, and music.