A Cheyenne family has been devastated since a beloved member of the family disappeared. Fearing he might be the victim of illegal trafficking, they’ve taken to social media with a plea for help.
Getting as many eyes as possible looking for Dino, the one-of-a-kind brontosaurus sculpture that was swiped from Jacqui and Chad Vooge’s front yard last week, may be their best shot at bringing him home.
The Vooges are pleading with the public to help find Dino (pronounced like the dinosaur dog from “The Flintstones”), which has not only become like one of the family, it’s a neighborhood landmark.
“I love him. He’s a meaningful gift from my husband for completing [occupational therapy] school,” Jacqui Vooge told Cowboy State Daily on Monday. “My son has played with him and used to ‘ride’ him and place rocks on his head, which was super cute.”
Dino has even been outfitted with a collar, denoting how much the Vooge family values him as a pet. He was bought from a shop in Illinois called Bronx Zoo Boutique and is an original work of art, making a replacement much more difficult to come by.
The Theft
But someone strolled into the Vooges’ fenced-in yard in central Cheyenne last Wednesday night and executed a dino-napping. Jacqui said the culprit left the gate open when they left with Dino. Prior to this, Dino had been safe in the family’s yard for the last four years.
Since then, there has been no word from the dino-napper, but the Vooges continue to hope someone will have a guilty conscience and return Dino.
“I’m also upset because we moved here from the St. Louis area to get away from crime and the big city,” Jacqui said. “I would have never imagined someone walking into my yard to take my dinosaur yard art here. We feel very violated, as the fence did not keep someone from walking onto our property and taking our stuff.”
The Vooges have a companion dinosaur statue, but brought that one inside out of fear it also might disappear.
Come Together For Dino
Jacqui has put out a call for help in various social media groups. Some people have responded with support, noting they also wish for the dinosaur to be found. Others have commented on how much the little brontosaurus makes them smile on their way to work.
“I have loved seeing this dino as I drive down Snyder! I live a few blocks away, so I'll keep my eyes out. So sorry it was taken,” Summer Kelly wrote in response to one of the posts.
“Aw man, I walk by it all the time and it always makes me smile. That's super sucky! I hope you guys find it,” Alexa Rizz wrote.
Jacqui knows how much joy Dino brings to the neighborhood, not just her own family, so she continues to hope the thief will feel the heat and return him.
That’s what happened in July 2022 when someone stole a 150-pound Sinclair dinosaur off the property of a Cheyenne family. But after intense social media scrutiny and outcry from the community, it was returned in the middle of the night.
“I don't even care if they just put him back in my yard, I just want him back,” she said. “He isn't a mass-produced metal dinosaur like the ones at CFD or in the store. He is special and one of a kind, and we just want him back.
“I remember a while back, someone stole a Sinclair dinosaur and he was returned. I’m hoping for the same thing.”
