Four Puppies Stolen from Animal Shelter Found – Two People Arrested
Shelter Director Sheri Lockhart arrives at the shelter with the stolen puppies after they were found Thursday morning.
It might not have been the biggest news story this week, but it certainly turned out to be the most heart-warming.
Four puppies, three small Beagles and one American Bulldog, stolen from the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter Tuesday night are now safe.
On Thursday, Royston Police, in conjunction with Lavonia Police Investigators and the Franklin County Sheriff’s office arrested two people in connection with the burglary at the shelter on Bear Creek Rd. in Lavonia.
“We came into work Wednesday morning and found two of our puppies standing on the sidewalk outside where they shouldn’t have been. They should have been inside our adoption center. We went inside and discovered we had four puppies missing from our adoption building,” Northeast Georgia Shelter Director Sheri Lockhart said Wednesday.
The puppies, were recovered after a woman in Royston saw the notices posted on Facebook that they had been stolen.
Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle said the woman had purchased two of the puppies the day before.
Katie Leigh WAlker
Thursday morning, Carlisle said the woman turned the two puppies in to Royston Police.
“A lady unknowingly purchased the puppies before she found out they had been stolen,” Carlisle said. “Once she learned through social media that the puppies were stolen, she didn’t want any part of receiving stolen property so she turned them into Royston Police Department.”
By Thursday afternoon, two people had been arrested after that woman gave police the names of the couple who sold her the dogs.
Tevin Roebuck
“That led law enforcement officers to 109 Harper Road in Royston,” Carlisle said. “The officers asked permission to enter and search the residence and they were given permission. Once inside, the officers discovered the other two puppies that had been taken from the animal shelter.”
Arrested were 20-year old Katie Walker, of 109 Harper Lane, Royston, and 21-year old Teven Roebuck, of 145 Jones Circle, Royston.
In Lavonia, both are charged with one count each of burglary.
David Houser holds the stolen puppy he pre-adopted after it was returned to the shelter Thursday
“Under interrogation this morning, both have admitted to breaking into the shelter and stealing the puppies,” Carlisle said.
Lockhart was able to retrieve the puppies Thursday morning.
“We are very, very happy that we have our puppies back,” she said Thursday. “They are all in good health and two of the puppies that were pre-adopted are going to their new homes this afternoon.”
David Houser is a volunteer with the Anderson Humane Society, and had pre-adopted the American Bulldog puppy.
He was waiting Thursday morning at the Northeast Georgia Animal Shelter for his puppy after he got the news they were found.
“We couldn’t believe someone would break into a shelter and steal puppies,” Houser said. “My wife and I are very happy and excited that they were found safe.”