'Extremely Rare' Pet Theft: RivCo Officials Seek Puppy-Napper

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — County animal control officials asked the public for help in finding three people who snatched a pup from a local shelter over the weekend — an act that was all caught on camera. The pit bull mix was in a "night-drop" area of the shelter when the thieves broke into the facility and took the animal, according to officials.

A "good Samaritan" placed the dog into the Jurupa Valley shelter's nighttime compartment, where stray animals are brought, at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the Department of Animal Services. A review of surveillance footage shows a man, a boy and a woman breaking into the compartment about an hour later. Shortly after that, the man is seen leading the dog toward a vehicle.

"The man pulled out the dog, a brindle-colored pit bull mix, and it wagged its tail and then followed the man’s lead," said John Welsh with the Department of Animal Services. "The man used a collar on the dog to move it toward the waiting vehicle. It is uncertain whether the man or his companions owned the dog."

Animal Services officials said the shelter at 6851 Van Buren Blvd. annually receives about 3,000 pets in its night-drop compartments, which have food and water inside.

Officials said incidents like these are "extremely rare."

“Why this dog was taken is anyone’s guess, but it’s theft in our eyes – and we’re upset someone took a dog that may be owned by someone else,” said Robert Miller, director of the Department of Animal Services. “It’s very possible that an owner will never get their pet back because of the selfish act of these people.”

The theft was reported to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Anyone with information is asked to call (800) 950-2444 or visit riversidesheriff.org/crimetips .

– Image via Riverside County Department of Animal Services / City News Service contributed to this report