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Pippa, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was returned to her owners, the Joyce family, but without the pups she was carrying. From left: Holly Joyce (13), Brodie Tanner (6), Margaret Joyce (Richard Joyce) and Christopher Joyce (19).
An animal rights group is demanding that the pet thieves who took a pregnant Taranaki dog and returned it without their precious, day-long pups be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Pippa, a three-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, was expecting four Cavoodle puppies, which could sell for thousands of dollars, when she was stolen from an Omata family home on Easter Monday.
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Pippa is recovering at home next to poodle Charlie.
On Sunday the owner Margaret Joyce received a message from an unknown number that she had Pippa and wanted to return her.
A few hours later, Pippa arrived at the front door after being dropped off somewhere nearby. She was in poor health and without her four crossbred pups, which can be sold for thousands of dollars.
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Debra Ashton, General Manager of Save Animals From Exploitation (Safe), feared the pups would not survive without their mother. Puppies are usually not separated for at least eight weeks
“This is a serious crime and should be treated appropriately,” she said.
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Pippa is held by Holly Joyce, 13.
“Just like a human newborn baby separated from its mother, these puppies are at risk of poor health outcomes and even death.
“We hope that the perpetrator will be found and brought to bear the consequences to the fullest extent of the law.”
Under the Crimes Act of 1961, a person who steals livestock or other animals is liable for up to seven years’ imprisonment or could face charges under the Animal Welfare Act of 1999.
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Pippa’s family from left, Holly Joyce, Brodie Tanner, Margaret Joyce, Richard Joyce and Christopher Joyce.
Joyce said the family were relieved to have Pippa home again.
“My kids saw them first, so they screamed. We were just overjoyed, ”said Joyce.
“But we are still concerned about her health and the trauma she went through and how it will affect her.”
The family offered a $ 2,500 reward for returning their pet.
“The fact that we don’t know where the pups are is a big problem.”
On Monday, Pippa spent the day with the vets for a blood transfusion before being brought back to her family at 11pm.
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Pippa had a blood transfusion on Monday.
“She lost a lot of weight,” said Joyce on Tuesday.
“But she looks a little bolder today.”
Joyce believes that because of the power of the media, they were able to get Pippa back and were inundated with support.
“I think they were scared it was on the news,” she said.
The family also went to the police and even wrote “Dog for Sale for $ 200,000” on Trade Me to get attention.
When Pippa’s owners were first stolen, they posted on Trade Me to raise awareness of the missing dog.
Dogs’ New Zealand secretary Steven Thompson said Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very popular and always in the top 10 breeds.
“And of course they’re a cute dog when paired with a poodle to make a cavoodle.”
Thompson said the bulk of their breeder and dog registrations were pedigree dogs and only accepted crossbreeds that compete in sports like agility and obedience, which a Cavoodle doesn’t.
“Somewhere like TradeMe, most of these dogs are sold, and if they survive, these pups will likely end up there.”
A police media spokesman said in an email that the case had not been updated and that the investigation was still ongoing.
“The police are still investigating this matter.”
