A litter of newborn puppies was stolen from a Kamloops dog breeder’s home after she suddenly died about two weeks ago. Two families who bought a puppy before his death are now out by thousands of dollars.
Katy Gartner and her family were thrilled to have a dog in Penticton. He researched breeds and breeders until he decided on the Alapaha Blue Blooded Bulldog from a Kamloops breeder. They named him ‘Gator’.
Gartner says he paid full price of $3,000 for the dog, but he and his companions could not take him home before he went missing.
Instead, they received a message saying that the dog’s breeder, 33-year-old Danya Watson, had suddenly died and that the entire litter, eight six-week-old puppies, was gone.
“We got in touch with roommates she lived with who had possession of the puppies,” said Danya Watson’s sister, Kirsten Burton-Weatherhead.
“They told us they were stolen within an hour of medical personnel and the RCMP leaving the scene.”
Roommates told Burton-Weatherhead that someone stole the puppies through the side gate of the yard. However, she says the story seemed “closed”.
Burton-Weatherhead said, “I found the gate they were apparently taken from and three feet of grass, there was no way anyone could get in and out without making some kind of path.”
“It didn’t mean anything to me or my family.”
Apart from filling out the police report, Watson’s sister also put out several posts on the social media platform which have been shared thousands of times.
“These dogs cost anywhere between $2,500 and $4,500,” Burton-Weatherhead said.
“So I’m sure the people who took them had the intention of selling them and making quick money.”
Katy Gartner is concerned about the safety and well-being of all the puppies that are allegedly stolen, but she can’t help but focus on the one who has already won her heart, which She was looking forward to taking him home.
“We chose Gator. As soon as I saw him, I was like ‘He’s my dog. It’s just tough,'” Gartner said.
Anyone with information about the puppies is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP Detachment.