Two dogs stolen, one missing following animal shelter break-in
An Australian Shepherd is missing, and two other dogs are believed to have been stolen after someone broke into the Animal Welfare Coalition’s shelter.
Tina Holguin, an Animal Welfare Coalition director, told the Optic the break-in occurred sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17 and 7:45 a.m. Monday, Nov. 18. The break-in and the missing dogs were discovered when workers arrived Monday morning to find several dogs running loose in the yard.
“We initially thought someone had dumped them over our gate,” Holguin said. “But when they started their morning cleaning process, they realized that nine of our kennels had been cut open with wire cutters.”
Holguin said someone gained access to the kennels by first cutting a hole in a chain-link gate before they started cutting open kennels.
Two dogs are believed to have been stolen — a pit bull mix and a heeler mix. The dogs had been seized by police from a home in Las Vegas and were being kept at the shelter.
Animal Welfare Coalition officials believe the other kennels were cut open as the thieves searched for the seized dogs.
Several dogs wandered outside the kennels for hours, and three dogs escaped the shelter through the hole cut in the perimeter gate.
Two of those dogs have since returned on their own; however, a red and white male Australian Shepard is still missing.
Holguin called the damage caused by the break-in “significant” and said the repairs were made quickly because the shelter could not operate without the kennels.
“It’s expensive,” she said. “We’re a small not-for-profit, and that kind of damage definitely affects us.”
Holguin said the public can help offset the damages to the shelter by donating directly to the Animal Welfare Coalition. Donations by cash, check or credit card can be made in person at the shelter located at 1680 N Grand Avenue, and online donations can be made through AWC’s website: animalwelfarenewmexico.org.
The shelter also accepts donations of supplies such as dog and cat food, new or gently-used collars and leashes, bedding and cat litter.
According to Holguin, the shelter’s greatest needs right now are kitten and puppy food, towels and blankets.
The Las Vegas Police Department was unable to provide details about its investigation into the theft by the Optic’s press time Friday.
