June 20, 2008

Eight puppies were stolen from a Colorado shelter on Tuesday but by Friday afternoon six of the pit bulls had been returned. Mojo, above, and Meadow are still missing. (Photos Courtesy of Animal Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Colo.)

BOULDER, Colo. -- For the second time in three months, pit bull puppies have been stolen from the Animal Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Boulder, Colo.

Six of the eight puppies stolen Tuesday night have been recovered and are back at the shelter, as of press time Friday afternoon.

“We’re very concerned for the welfare of the remaining two that are missing,” says Lisa Pedersen, the Humane Society’s chief executive officer. “They were just spayed or neutered on Monday and are still recovering.”

The five pups that were returned to the shelter are all healing well.

In April this year, someone broke into the shelter and nabbed a pit bull puppy. Pedersen says after that incident, they reinforced the door and added padlocks to other areas that provided access to the shelter, but apparently that wasn’t enough.

This week’s burglar, or burglars, cut a padlock and made their way in.

While she wouldn’t comment on whether this is the start of a pattern, Pedersen acknowledges the incidents are similar, “which is a disturbing trend.”

Pedersen says they will increase security measures even further by adding surveillance cameras, which are not in the budget for the nonprofit agency.

“I’m deeply saddened that this is what we’re being forced to do. Any time we’re spending money not directly related to animal care, well, it’s not how we want to spend our resources.”

Nationally, dog napping is on the rise. A report by ABC news states that as the value of rare dog breeds has gone up, so have reported thefts. Last year, two men were charged with stealing puppies at gunpoint in Los Angeles.

The Animal Cruelty Heartline of El Paso, Texas, reports an increase in dog theft in that community, too, adding that small-breed dogs, like miniature Schnauzers, are targeted because they’re cute and can generate a ransom.

While dog napping is not entirely a new phenomenon in Boulder -- Pedersen says one or two animals go missing each year from the Humane Society, which takes in 8,000 animals annually -- this is a first for breaking and entering to steal a dog.

The fact that both incidents involved pit bulls could be more than just coincidence, but Pedersen would not comment or speculate.

Pit bulls are banned in nearby Denver. As a result, many dogs are transferred to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley where they are not illegal and which offers a very strong adoption program for the breed. The eight puppies that were stolen this week are part of that program.

Boulder Police continue to investigate the dog-theft. In a public plea, Pedersen says the more people on the look-out, the better.

“We have a great concern for the welfare of these animals, and we hope the community will help us locate them and get them back into loving homes,” Pendersen said.

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