Rescuer is suspected of stealing dogs
The sheriff’s department in Cabell County, West Virginia, is investigating the disappearance of more than 100 dogs from homes in the area, and detectives suspect many of them may have been taken by the same person.
Stranger yet, their yet to be charged suspect is an animal rescuer.
WSAZ reports that “Sheriff’s Detective William Templeton has built a pretty extensive theft case surrounding more than 100 dogs and some cats” and that “all of the evidence is pointing toward one woman.”
Given no charges have been filed, given a shortage of facts, we won’t name the organization, and we’ll also point out the possibility that, as opposed to outright thefts, whoever is taking the animals may see what she’s doing as rescuing dogs being kept chained or otherwise neglected.
But the sheriff’s department sees a crime, at least one, and maybe 100. Templeton says he knows who the suspect is, and he plans to file charges eventually in the theft of one family’s dog.
Jim Daniels said his dog Max, a Yorkshire terrier, went missing several weeks ago.
“A lady come up and took him off the leash and went back to a red car,” Templeton said.
Daniels said he has since recovered Max, but details on how that transpired weren’t included in the story.
Neighbors witnessed the “dognapping” and recognized “the thief” as a neighbor who lives just a few houses down from him, WSAZ reported. Daniel described the woman as “a dog fanatic who runs a dog rescue operation.”
“…This girl is bootlegging dogs. She’s stealing them and selling them,” Daniels said.
Posted by jwoestendiek October 4th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Comments
Comment from vida
Time October 4, 2012 at 6:12 pm
I can see reporting abuse or neglect but often nothing is done until the poor dog is dead. I guess I think legally right isn’t always morally right although a hundred dogs is probably a mental issue, not a moral issue
Comment from MJJean
Time October 4, 2012 at 8:52 am
” the possibility that, as opposed to outright thefts, whoever is taking the animals may see what she’s doing as rescuing dogs being kept chained or otherwise neglected.”
Umm, if the person involved is taking dogs for any reason then is IS stealing. She can “think” she is “rescuing” dogs that she believes are chained or neglected all she wants, but in the eyes of the law and of the owners she is stealing. Period.
If the woman believes dogs are being abused or neglected she needs to keep her hands off those dogs and report to the local authorities, not take matters into her own hands.