Pet Stealing

[DeerHunter]

Hello everyone. I saw this on the freecycle site and wanted to share this with you.

I wanted to send out this e-mail asking everyone (esp. in the Inwood/Bunker
Hill/RT 51 area) to be aware...

Last night, hubby and I were walking our dog (or she was walking us) in our development (Inwood/Bunker Hill area) and a dark maroon 1991 Chevrolet Astro Van drove by us and turned around in the cul de sac. It stopped us and asked if we had seen two (2) small Yorkie size dogs running lose. As hubby was talking to him, I looked in the back of the van and found 4 small to medium sized dog kennels - there was already one med-size black/brown Shep mix in one of the kennels as well.

After a little "research" of the tag number, the van returns to the owner "name withheld" of Inwood - she's been charged w/animal cruelty and the man, the one we encountered, has previously been charged 3 or 4 times in MD for Animal Cruelty. He is the gofer of the operation and provides the number to an animal shelter they used as a cover up.

This morning I contacted Berkeley County Animal Control and learned they previously charged these people a year and a half ago for Animal Cruelty for stealing over 150 dogs and attempting to sell them. Anyway, BC Animal Control is now aware and is opening a second investigation. Please beware, they go around stealing dogs (esp. in this area) and try to make a quick buck selling them to VA, MD and surrounding states.

[newyacker]

I'm so very proud to be a part of the human race, uh, I mean cesspool. :barf2:

[Ron]

Wow, nice detective work! Please post the tag for all of us to watch for in The Mountain area also.

If you are uncomfortable doing this, please send the tag to:

[email protected]

At least the members of SSP can watch for it then. Thanks.

[JACKERMAN89]

I believe with all my heart, that there is a special place in HELL for people like this!

[JiveTurkey]

I believe with all my heart, that there is a special place in HELL for people like this!
Unfortunately, there's all sorts of special places in hell.

[Tony]

Something about the story doesn't sound right. In fact, I fully expected to find it listed at Snopes. It isn't, but it's one of those FOAF (a friend of a friend told me...) stories that sometimes has a grain of truth, but otherwise is all made up.

A few inconsistencies I noted right off the bat:
First, it's not even a FOAF - it's apparently from an anonymous listing on some mailing list. No link was given, so we can't even check that out.

Second, why would this lady be so suspicious of a guy that lost his dogs that she would squirm around and "find" all that in the back of an Astro van? Did she open the doors?

Third, if she got a tag, how did she connect that to a name, and after that, to crimes committed in another state entirely?

Fourth, why would "Berkely Animal Control" only charge a person with "animal cruelty" after they were caught stealing over 150 dogs???

I'm not asking for an answer to any of this. I'm just saying that you can't always believe everything you hear.

[Nanuk]

I share Tony's suspicions. It's too neat, has too many holes, and doesn't quite pass the smell test, especially coming from an anonymous source.

[Wormdoc]

I share Tony's suspicions. It's too neat, has too many holes, and doesn't quite pass the smell test, especially coming from an anonymous source.

While that may be true, it might spur folks to keep a little closer eye on their furkids, and that's a good thing.

[DeerHunter]

I am sorry but this was from a freecycle site that I frequently use. This is the whole email we received.Flag this message (http://us.mc657.mail.yahoo.com/mc/showMessage;_ylt=Aq1unG2fAe5NlgEqCTIKxG9jk70X?fid= Trash&sort=date&order=down&startMid=75&.rand=131419203&da=0&midIndex=11&prevMid=1_180644_AGYJDUwAAHcxSgMZBgHSOFhn9ew&nextMid=1_144186_AF0JDUwAAO%2B%2BSgMEsAQFhlJ8IOc&m=1_178829_AGQJDUwAAHIiSgMU2AnZhTC3Hnc,1_191302_AG AJDUwAAD3HSgNXDAPO%2BVaqo%2Bg,1_179727_AGUJDUwAANJ DSgMoIg7RBDVxbm0,1_154147_AGsJDUwAARnOSgML%2BQlT6Q 51FEs,1_180644_AGYJDUwAAHcxSgMZBgHSOFhn9ew,1_15480 8_AGQJDUwAAXCYSgMLJggvuhNwCdM,1_144186_AF0JDUwAAO% 2B%2BSgMEsAQFhlJ8IOc,1_181545_AGMJDUwAAKhfSgMoCg7n eDXQxyA,1_182523_AGwJDUwAACF1SgMoBAaLfQGLktc,1_183 504_AGsJDUwAASwSSgMn%2FwpCqmxPH4s,1_184455_AGcJDUw AABAaSgMn0QcNIiNLIf8,&mid=1_154808_AGQJDUwAAXCYSgMLJggvuhNwCdM&mcrumb=S4dKSpOI7R9&flag=1) [MartinsburgBerkeleyCoFreecycleBoard] ADMIN: Pet Posts and a Happy Birthday to Freecycle........

Thursday, May 7, 2009 12:23 PM

From:
"Angie" <[email protected]>
Add sender to Contacts

To:
[email protected] m




Dear Members,

First of all, I would like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Freecycle ™. Yep, the Freecycle Network turned five years old on May 1.

Please read this change in rules and information. A decision has been made about pet posts. We ARE GOING TO ALLOW THEM; however, we ask that if you are giving a pet away, please make sure that your pet is going to a good home. We will absolutely NOT allow posts such as "quickest pickup" or "first responder gets him" for pets. This is no way to find a good forever home for your furry friend. If you must give a pet away on the group, please act responsibly and make sure that you give yourself time choose between responders to find your little buddy the right home.

With that said, I received some information about a very bad situation that is going on locally. I have edited out some names, etc. Pet owners; please be aware of this situation…….

I wanted to send out this e-mail asking everyone (esp. in the Inwood/Bunker
Hill/RT 51 area) to be aware...

Last night, hubby and I were walking our dog (or she was walking us) in our development (Inwood/Bunker Hill area) and a dark maroon 1991 Chevrolet Astro Van drove by us and turned around in the cul de sac. It stopped us and asked if we had seen two (2) small Yorkie size dogs running lose. As hubby was talking to him, I looked in the back of the van and found 4 small to medium sized dog kennels - there was already one med-size black/brown Shep mix in one of the kennels as well.

After a little "research" of the tag number, the van returns to the owner "name withheld" of Inwood - she's been charged w/animal cruelty and the man, the one we encountered, has previously been charged 3 or 4 times in MD for Animal Cruelty. He is the gofer of the operation and provides the number to an animal shelter they used as a cover up.

This morning I contacted Berkeley County Animal Control and learned they previously charged these people a year and a half ago for Animal Cruelty for stealing over 150 dogs and attempting to sell them. Anyway, BC Animal Control is now aware and is opening a second investigation. Please beware, they go around stealing dogs (esp. in this area) and try to make a quick buck selling them to VA, MD and surrounding states.