Man with Britney Spears tattoo accused of stealing chihuahua with pink earrings from bar

Hudson Hayward Hemingway, a nearly 4-month-old Chihuahua with pink earrings, has been dognapped, her owner says.

Brian Dortort, 48, of Oakland Park, on Thursday said he has spent weeks searching for Hudson, who cost him more than $1,000, after a thief stole her July 28 outside Georgie's Alibi, a popular bar in Wilton Manors.

Dotort threw a birthday party for a friend at the bar that night, and was carrying the dog in a specialty pet bag, he said. One of the dog's admirers insisted he hold the dog and grabbed her, he said. Dotort didn't suspect the dog would be stolen, he said, so he briefly left the dog in the man's possession to pick up litter from a nearby table.

In an instant, the thief disappeared with Hudson, Dotort said. The dog, about the size of a softball, is described as light-cream coloured with a pink belly and pink ears. She has a pink earring in each ear.

Wilton Manors police investigated the theft and identified a suspect whose whereabouts are unknown, police spokesman David Jones said. It's up to the Broward State Attorney's Office to decide whether there's enough evidence for an arrest warrant to be issued, police said.

Dortort described the thief as a thin man about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He weighs about 160 pounds, has short brown hair and tattoos, including one on his arm or neck that says " Britney Spears."