A stray Husky whose owners may or may not have wanted to give up for adoption is missing.
The Husky mix by the name of Timber was stolen from the Chico Animal Shelter at around 6 p.m. on St. Patrick’s Day and reported missing on March 18 at 9 a.m., according to the Chico Animal Shelter.
Tracy Mohr, Animal Services Manager at the Chico Animal Shelter, reported that the padlock to Timber’s kennel was cut off and stolen by an unknown suspect.
The animal was surrendered as a stray and owners were found and contacted. Owners proposed he be put up for adoption. Under legal circumstances, paperwork was needed to be signed before this process could move forward.
Mohr said owners refused to come in to sign the much needed paperwork. When this happens, the shelter gives owners two weeks to claim their dog or else he will be automatically put up for adoption.
However, Mohr mentioned that when the owners were contacted they wanted the Husky to be put up for adoption.
Stealing a dog is considered theft under California law. For a petty theft of property valued below $50, a prosecutor has the discretion to charge the crime as a misdemeanor or infraction, which carries a fine of $250.
“Animals are considered property,” Mohr said. “If the owner or any other person stole the dog, they would be charged with theft and not paying the adoption fees needed for proper adoption,” Mohr said.
She is hoping Timber will be brought back to the shelter.
”He most likely will turn up because he is unique looking and Huskies do not like staying in their fenced area. He will end up being turned in by someone else who will have caught him,” said Mohr.