Stealing dogs

With temperatures plummeting this winter, SPCA investigators have seen dog theft rising. The thieves are people worried about animals left shivering out in the cold. A Smithville man had his husky stolen and he’s pleading for her safe return.

Sasha is a 15-month old husky. On Wednesday evening, she was chained outside her house in Smithville, steps away from the side door.

Matthew Baarda is Sasha’s owner: “It was at 6:30. We went inside for five minutes to grab something. Then we came back out. She was gone.”

Sasha was tied to her leash with a large hook.

Matthew said: “It’s spring action. The minute you let go, it comes back. When we were first aware of that, we were kind of upset. So we did what we could to get her back.”

Fliers with Sasha’s photo are posted all over town. Her owner Matthew Baarda feels she may have been stolen because a pure bred and worth a lot of money.

Humane Society investigators say it may be something else. Animal lovers stealing dogs left outside in the cold.

John Greer is with the Welland SPCA: “Even if we go out as an SPCA, and we deem it okay and determine it’s got adequate shelter. And the water’s okay. There are some groups out there that may go out and take that animal. We’ve gotten calls where people have said to us, If you don’t go and take the dog, we will go and take the dog.”

That’s exactly what happened to Tiger the guard dog in Hamilton. He was stolen by people worried about him suffering outside in freezing tempertures.

They say that winter dogs, with double coats and long fur don’t mind the cold. That temperatures of minus 15, minus 20 is no problem for them.

There were all kinds of dogs out Friday. But it’s near the freezing point. Huskies doesn’t mind the weather at all.

We’ll soon be back in the deep freeze. and the dog nappers may be back too.

John said: “We tell them it’s illegal and they will be charged with theft and trespassing and everything else.”