Two puppies stolen from animal shelter
Animal Care Tu¯ rangi is hoping the power of social media will help bring home two puppies stolen from its shelter last weekend.
The charity’s manager, Stacy Lewis, and its volunteers are heartbroken by the theft, with both the 3-month-old pups about to find new homes.
Stacy says at some point overnight last Friday thieves cut through the shelter’s perimeter fence in Hangarito St, Tu¯ rangi, and took away the two bearded collie-cross puppies, Star and Gypsy. Two bigger dogs who were also at the shelter were left behind.
The pair were rescued from the Taupo Pound last month and both have been microchipped and registered with the Taupo District Council.
Stacy last saw the puppies playing together at about 6pm on Friday evening as she headed home after the animals had been fed and settled for the night. When volunteers arrived at 8am the next morning the fence was cut and the pups gone.
Stacy says the timing of the theft is strange as the shelter had puppies stolen at almost exactly the same time three years ago.
She is hoping people will keep an eye out for the puppies which are both distinctive animals. Star is black with a large white star on her chest and Gypsy is brown, also with a white star on her chest. Stacy says while Gypsy is confident and laid back, Star is quite needy and has separation anxiety.
Despite that, a woman from Christchurch had offered to adopt Star and was planning to fly to Auckland next month to meet her, and people from Whanganui to Coromandel had also expressed interest in adopting Gypsy.
“We really would like to get our puppies back so that we can give them the loving, deserving homes that we had lined up for them.
Animal Care Tu¯ rangi’s Facebook post about the theft of its puppies has had 300 shares and reached 90,000 people so far and Stacy hopes that if anybody sees the puppies out and about they will notify her or the local police.
She says while the shelter has some security cameras, they unfortunately didn’t pick up the area the puppies were stolen from and as a charity, Animal Care Tu¯ rangi doesn’t have thousands to spend on 24-hour security.
“I’m really disappointed. We rescued these dogs from the pound because they had run out of time. I’m their last chance. It’s just heart wrenching.
“If you want an animal then do it the right way. Walk in the door, get an application, provide fencing and prove you’ll be a good dog owner, but don’t steal from a rescue.”
■ To contact Animal Care Tu¯rangi, ph or text 027 644 0044.