CORONA DEL MAR (CBS) — Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?…that’s the question an Orange County woman is asking after her Chihuahua was stolen in what she calls a politically motivated attack.

Carole Rudat says her beloved dog, Romeo, was stolen from her Orange backyard in August 2010. She is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the safe return of her dog.

”I’ve been told by a professional detective that this is often done to send a message to back off what your doing,” said Rudat. “It’s done in business and it’s done in politics.”

Rudat said Romeo went missing a few days before the filing deadline for the 2010 Orange City Council election. Rudat, who had run in the 2006 election, did not intend to file in 2010, but she believes Romeo was taken by unnamed people who assumed she would be announcing her candidacy.

A spokesman for Orange police say a report was taken from Rudat in August of 2010, but there was no evidence that the Chihuahua was stolen.

Rudat is also offering a $100,000 reward for the conviction of any elected official involved with or with knowledge of Romeo’s dognapping.

“It’s not any different than the kidnapping of children. This is my family member. This is a grieving process,” Rudat said.

The campaign to find the 4-year-old chocolate brown and white pooch has also spread to Facebook and YouTube.

To help find Romeo, click here.