A city woman is asking for a family to return her dog that is trained to recognize her epileptic seizures after the dog got loose Thursday morning.

Bethany Johnson was at the Dollar Tree on Foote Avenue on Thursday when her dog, a female pitbull, labrador mix, named Van Gogh got out of her collar and ran. Johnson said a family grabbed the dog in the parking lot and took off with her before she could get to them.

“It’s not their fault, they probably had no idea about the dog,” Johnson said. “She is my epilepsy dog; she can tell when I’m going to have a seizure or not.”

Johnson described Van Gogh as having a jaw like a pitbull but said her nose sticks out like a labrador. She is white with a butterscotch patch and white on the back. Johnson said she has had her for about a year, since she was a puppy, after Van Gogh went through the specific epilepsy training for about six to eight months.

“She can sense I’m going to have a seizure before I even know I’m going to have one,” Johnson said. “She will sit, so then I will sit.”

Johnson is offering a reward of whatever amount she needs to pay to have Van Gogh returned to her. She said it can remain secret and does not have to be public, and that there are no hard feelings.

“These dogs are a lot of money, and I will pay whatever I need to to get her back,” Johnson said. “It’s not about the money. These people probably had no idea. I just want her back. I’ve had her for so long, and she belongs with me.”

Johnson’s phone number is 716-203-6074.