The attack happened near U.S. 290 and FM 1960 West on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to the victim and authorities.
HOUSTON — A 42-year-old disabled man says he was beaten and robbed at a northwest Harris County gas station on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and his small emotional support dog was taken by people seen leaving in an older blue pickup. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation.
The case has drawn attention because the stolen dog, Bailey, is more than a pet to the owner, Gene Fivel, who panhandles at the intersection of U.S. 290 and FM 1960 West to afford a room at a nearby motel. Deputies are reviewing surveillance video that appears to show the robbery and are working to identify the people involved. As of Thursday, investigators had not announced arrests. Family members say Fivel relies on Bailey daily and is distraught.
Fivel said he typically spends a few morning and evening hours at the intersection with Bailey. He told reporters the pair depend on small donations and that neighbors often drop off food, hygiene items and dog supplies. On Jan. 19, he said, two men approached him at a gas station, struck him and took items, including Bailey, before leaving in an older-model blue truck with a third person inside. “She helps me through my problems,” Fivel said of his dog, adding that Bailey wakes him when he struggles to breathe. His mother, Peggy Dobbs, said her son’s first concern is always the dog: “If he doesn’t have anything, that dog is going to eat first,” she said.
According to Fivel and his family, Bailey is a small, neutered dog and had been with him for years as an emotional companion. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said deputies are examining footage from cameras at the gas station near the intersection and canvassing the area for leads. Authorities have described the suspects as two men connected to a blue pickup seen in the video. A third person was believed to be inside the truck, but investigators have not released names or more detailed descriptions. The agency has not disclosed the exact time of day the attack occurred or what was recovered from the scene, and it remains unclear whether the suspects knew Fivel beforehand.
The location is a busy commuter crossroads lined with fuel stations and shopping centers just off U.S. 290, a corridor that feeds traffic northwest toward Cypress and beyond. People panhandling at high-traffic intersections in Harris County is not uncommon, and law enforcement has periodically addressed thefts and assaults around similar locations. Family statements describe Bailey as an “emotional companion service dog,” though authorities have not addressed the dog’s paperwork or training. Fivel said the dog has been “a blessing” and that losing her feels like losing a family member; he described crying for hours after the attack.
Investigators said the case is being handled as a robbery with a stolen animal and are working to confirm all elements captured on video. They have asked for tips that could help locate Bailey and identify the people in the truck. Sheriff’s officials are expected to provide updates when significant developments occur. No court filings or charging documents had been announced as of Jan. 29, and deputies had not publicly linked the incident to other cases in the area. Any future releases could include suspect images from the surveillance video and information about where the truck was last seen.
On Thursday, Fivel resumed his routine at the intersection without Bailey, speaking briefly with passersby who recognized him from local television. Drivers slowed at the light, some asking whether there was news about the dog. “It’s like someone lost a child,” Dobbs said, describing her son’s reaction. People who have seen Fivel in the area said they hope the dog is returned quickly and unharmed.
Authorities said the investigation is active and that they plan to review additional video from nearby businesses in the coming days. No arrests or charges had been announced by Thursday afternoon.
Author note: Last updated January 29, 2026.