Mystery Deepens Over Dogs Abandoned at Will Rogers Beach

The dogs have sparked a missing person investigation.

August 3, 2026 · Pacific Palisades

Two dogs found alone at Will Rogers State Beach nearly a month ago have sparked a missing persons investigation, with searchers fearing something happened to their owner.

The dogs were discovered barking in the beach's Pacific Palisades parking lot around 10 p.m. on July 9. A beach bag containing a swimsuit, dog food and a sunshade was [found in a nearby restroom](https://ktla.com/news/local-news/dogs-found-alone-at-will-rogers-state-beach-spark-search-for-possible-missing-woman/) around the same time, and the LAPD's Missing Persons Unit is now investigating.

The local resident who found the dogs, near Temescal Canyon Rd., reportedly shouted for their owner but received no response. He has since spent weeks canvassing the area, speaking with business owners and homeless residents and posting to social media, telling KTLA nothing about the case is consistent with the dogs having been intentionally abandoned. In [earlier interviews with FOX 11](https://www.foxla.com/news/2-dogs-found-alone-will-rogers-state-beach-spark-mystery-over-missing-owner), he said he feared the owner may have been abducted at the beach.

The founder of a national pet-reunification service assisting in the search said the dogs were well-groomed, healthy, and wearing matching expensive harnesses, though neither was microchipped. An eyewitness reportedly saw a woman with the two dogs in the same restroom where the belongings were found, but the beach has no security cameras outside its restrooms.

The dogs are currently in a foster home. Anyone with information, or video from the beach on July 9, is asked to call 1-800-HELP-4-PETS.