Sheriff: Stolen dog reunited with Washington County owner after being taken to Canada

Investigators say the dog was taken by a contractor working in the area, and felony theft warrants remain active.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A dog reported stolen in Washington County has been reunited with its owner after Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran says the animal was taken to Canada.

Cochran says the investigation started in December 2025 after a family reported their blue and gray pitbull had been taken without permission.

According to Cochran, the person who took the dog visited Sandersville Veterinary Clinic and left a phone number in case the owner attempted to locate the dog, but when the owner contacted the person, later identified as Krishna Sivapalan, he refused to cooperate and stopped communicating.

Sivapalan had been working in the area as a contractor. According to Cochran, investigators learned the dog had been taken to Sivapalan’s home in Canada.

Cochran says Sivapalan agreed to turn himself in and return the dog. Instead, Cochran says the man’s wife came back to the United States and released the dog to a local boarding facility.

The dog has since been reunited with its owner. Cochran says felony theft warrants for Sivapalan are still active.