Tiny Chihuahua pups stolen in Spokane may be in danger
Thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of puppies and paint ball guns in a burglary that could cost the lives of three small Chihuahuas that require special feedings.
The break-in at the family-owned Pink Poodle Grooming Parlor, which sells pets, and the attached Camokaze Paintball Supply, on North Monroe in Spokane, was discovered Tuesday morning.
Family members are concerned for the puppies, which weigh just 1 pound each and require constant feedings so they don’t become hypoglycemic.
“It’s been pretty bad for us. They’ll probably die if they don’t have special care,” said Ryan Dunlavy, son of store owners Rob and Deanna Dunlavy.
The pet store break-in was followed by a burglary at SpokAnimal C.A.R.E., which was discovered Wednesday morning.
Spokane Police spokesman Dick Cottam said the nature and timing of the two crimes is unusual.
“It’s a coincidence, but police officers don’t believe very much in coincidence,” he said.
Still, Cottam said, police aren’t able to say if the two crimes are related.
Pink Poodle lost eight puppies that sell for $600 to $800 each. Taken were four pugs, three Chihuahuas and a Jack Russell terrier-mix. Additionally, guns and supplies were missing from their paint ball store.
Dunlavy said his family has had break-ins before. They installed a security system and had windows and doors encased with iron bars. The burglars used bolt cutters to get through the bars and then broke the glass and stepped through the lower part of the door. Bolt cutters were used to cut through locks on the cages containing the puppies.
From there, they cut bars on a window that separated the two businesses and climbed through to steal the paint ball guns.
SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. employees were equally shocked when they arrived Wednesday morning and discovered the door had been kicked in and the cash register was lying outside in the street.
Gail Mackie, the shelter director, said thieves ripped the register’s cord out of the wall and damaged the outlet, in addition to trashing the register and the door.
Because the cash drawer was empty, the thieves walked away with just $10 from a collection jar, but they caused at least $700 in damage.
Mackie was relieved the burglars didn’t vandalize the facility’s new kennels or hurt the pets.
“I’m just glad that our animals are safe and that our staff members weren’t here,” Mackie said.
The nonprofit will bear the brunt of the expense because the insurance deductible is $1,000. She’s hoping the community will step forward with donations of cat litter and pet food to help through this tough time.
“We are very short of dog food and cat litter, so that even hurts worse,” Mackie said. “I think it’s really sad. We try really hard to do the best with what we have.”
Dunlavy said the family is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the thieves’ arrest and hoping that the dogs aren’t traded for drugs or sold to uncaring owners. “It’s really terrible. It’s probably a $10,000 loss. The main thing is we’re really sick about the puppies.”