All Vicky Hyman and her children want is to get Madea safely back.

“She’s part of our family. I got her for my kids,” Hyman said of the five-month-old pit bull who was apparently stolen from her chain between 8:30 Friday night and 10 Saturday morning. “My kids are heartbroken.”

Madea has a blue nose and blue eyes. Her feet are all white and she has a white streak on her face that goes around to her neck. “She’s very pretty and is a blue color with very light brindle in her. She’s very friendly and knows her name.”

Madea’s reaction when her name is called is to run to the caller and jump on them, not to attack but “so you can rub her.”

Hyman said Madea would never leave home on her own. “She would never go outside the yard.”

The last time Hyman saw Madea was after a walk with her Friday night and after feeding her around 8:30 p.m. When Hyman got up Saturday morning around 10, she discovered Madea and her chain was gone, the only thing left was the post her chain was hooked onto.

Madea would have barked if anyone in her Highway 48 neighborhood just outside Roanoke Rapids passed her. “Someone came up with food because she never barked at any time.”

The children, two boys and a girl, want their dog back, Hyman said. “They’re scared somebody’s hurting her. She’s a beautiful, loving dog.”

Her color is a smoky gray that appears blue. “It’s very rare. I haven’t seen another that looks like her.”

Hyman believes whoever took Madea did so to sell her or claim the dog as their own pet. “I would like for the person who did it to put yourself in my position. How would you feel if someone took your kids’ dog? Please bring her back.”

If the family gets Madea back she will become an inside dog, Hyman said. “When I saw her I wanted her. I let my kids look at her first. She just became a good part of our family. If I could come up with some money, I’d be happy to come up with a reward. We’re all heartbroken.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444 or the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at 252-583-8201.