RCMP are investigating the theft of a dog from the South Okanagan Similkameen BC SPCA branch kennels in Penticton.
Interim branch manager Carolyn Hawkins discovered the dog, a year-old whippet-cane corso-cross, missing when she arrived at the Dartmouth Drive shelter at about 8 a.m. Thursday.
“When I came in I checked all the dogs and one of the dogs didn’t come to the door of the kennel. I went outside and I found a big hole in the fence of that particular kennel. You could see that it (fencing) was cut,” said Hawkins who then checked the perimeter fence on the property and found a large hole where it too had been cut.
“We just worry about the health and welfare of the animal, you never know what somebody would steal a dog for,” she said. “They (thieves) went to a lot of trouble just to take that particular dog. We have three other dogs.”
Hawkins added the animal was just surrendered to the SPCA on Tuesday by person who was no longer able to care for it.
The theft is believed to have taken place sometime between noon Wednesday and Thursday morning.
Attempts to contact the person who surrendered the dog have so far been unsuccessful, according to Hawkins.
According to Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth of the Penticton RCMP, police are currently checking leads and anyone with information is asked to call the detachment at 250-492-4300 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.