The owner of a French bulldog says that his pet is being held for ransom after the dog was stolen during an alleged play date.

Xavier Burgos spoke exclusively to News 12 New Jersey. He says that not only is he fearful about what will happen to his 5-month-old dog named Enzo, but he is also fearful that the thieves will come back. He says that since they know where he lives, he wants to move out.

Burgos says that the theft happened after he was contacted about setting up a play date for the dogs.

“The morning of May 5, this guy texted me and asked me if we were down to go to the dog park because he informed me a couple of weeks before that he had French bulldogs,” Burgos says.

The 22-year-old says that he brought his puppy to meet the other man and dog at the Woodbridge Dog Park in the Sewaren section of town. He says that he knew this man for about four months through a mutual acquaintance.

"Things got a little weird because when I arrived there, he told me he was at the bank and that all the puppies are at his friend’s house,” Burgos says. “He was trying to get me to go to his friend’s house, but I didn’t know his friend, so I wasn’t comfortable doing that. So, I said, ‘I will wait for you and your friend to come here to the dog park.’”

Burgos says that once the other man made it to the park, he suggested they go to a nearby apartment to pick up more dogs to play.

“So, we follow them to the apartment. It was to Fox Hill Run apartments in Woodbridge. He claims his mother lives there,” Burgos says.

Burgos says that once they got to the parking lot of the complex, “he lets his dog out again. I let my dog out in the little lot, so they continue to play with each other.”

Burgos says he went back into his car to tell his girlfriend they had to wait for the other man’s mother. He was told the key to the apartment was not working.

"By the time I’m getting back out of my car, they had already picked up my dog and put him in the car and drove off,” Burgos says.

He says that he tried running after the car, but they got away.

Burgos also says that later that night he received a video of his dog along with text messages that stated, “I swear any funny biz I’ll kill ya’ fluffy.”

“He texted me and he told me that I have to pay $8,000 to get my dog back,” Burgos says. “I was willing to pay him the money for my dog back, but I am not just going to send money without being able to see my dog. “

Burgos says that he is desperate to get his beloved pet back.

“I really do hope that when you do get caught and prosecuted for extorting me for my puppy that you really feel bad for what you have done,” he says.

Burgos says that the police have been able to track the phone number of the alleged kidnapper. He says he is hopeful that his dog will be found.