SEATTLE -- Thieves broke into a local couple's home this week and stole, among other things, something that can not be replaced -- a pet that used to belong to the couple's late best friend.

Footprints are all that's left behind of the thieves who ransacked Eric Johnston and Sis Esperito's Skyway home in broad daylight on Monday.

"Looks like they came in backwards and gave it a couple of hits with their foot, and that's what busted the door open," Johnston said.

The thieves emptied drawers, took cash, a new gaming system and a TV.

"There was a 47-inch flat screen here and they just yanked that off," said Johnston. "You just feel empty inside. Somebody's just taken everything that you've worked for."

The thieves even lifted up the mattress and stole a 9-millimeter Baretta that Johnston had just loaded the night before after a stranger came to his door.

"And he wanted to come in and use my cell phone and I said 'no, it's too late,'" he said.

"They went through all these drawers used to have rings jewelry, birth stones, gifts and things, too," said Esperito.

But the thing the couple misses the most has four legs and went by the name Bullet. He's a chihuahua the pair inherited from best friend Corey, who died last month.

"Our hearts are broken again. We just got over losing Corey and to lose his puppy too, I promised him and his mom that I would take care of him," said Esperito. "It's like losing our friend all over again."

The couple says Bullet likely barked at the burglar from inside his crate. They say they can live with losing their belongings; it's the puppy they want back.

"We can replace that stuff eventually we just cannot replace that puppy," said Johnston.

Anyone with information about the stolen dog's whereabouts is urged to contact the KOMO 4 Problem Solvers.