Durham, N.C. — The Animal Protection Society of Durham is offering a $500 reward for the safe return of a 12-year-old foster dog that they believe was stolen during a home burglary.

The foster parents of Gizmo, a female Pekingese, left her in her crate when they went out for the evening Friday, APS officials said. When they returned home, however, Gizmo and some electronic items were missing from their home, at 303 Beaver Dam Run.

The homeowners filed a police report of a home break-in.

Gizmo's former owner gave her to the APS on Jan. 24, and Gizmo was given a foster home in early February. She had been scheduled to go to an adoption event at PetSmart on Patterson Place Sunday.

On APS' Web site, Gizmo's foster parents wrote that "Gizmo has been sooo good ... she absolutely loves her crate, and loves to go for walks. She sounds like a vacuum when she sniffs!

"She is trusting us more and more, and gets excited when we get home."

The APS is asking anyone who sees Gizmo or notices someone who has recently acquired an older Pekingese under suspicious circumstances to call the police or the APS at 919-560-0640 or email manager@apsofdurham.org.