[News] Seven Dogs Stolen from York Woman

[Pixelate]

Stolen puppies recovered; two adult dogs still missing
BROCK PARKER The York Dispatch
York Dispatch
Article Last Updated:08/21/2007 10:53:53 AM EDT

Thieves broke into her York City home and stole her seven dogs last week.

But Sylvia Grovell said she's recovered five of her dogs, including four puppies, and she's working with police to get the other two.

"I hate what they did," Grovell said of the thieves who took her dogs. "I hate what they did to me, and how they made me feel, and what they put my dogs through."

Grovell, who lives on West Princess Street, said she discovered someone had broken into her home last Wednesday afternoon after she went to buy a playpen for her four Yorkshire terrier puppies.

When she didn't hear barking when she returned home and her key didn't work in her door, she knew something was wrong, Grovell said. Inside her apartment she discovered her puppies and their parents, Sarah and Buster, both Yorkshire terriers, were gone, as was her Yorkshire-Chihuahua mix, Delilah.

"They were like my kids," Grovell said. "I was sick. I didn't know what to do. I got myself together and I called my landlord and police right away."

But within a day, someone at a local pet store who'd heard about the stolen dogs
on television reported that someone had called the store trying to sell four Yorkie pups and an older female Yorkie.

Grovell said the man from the pet store told her that three days before her dogs were stolen, a woman called the store, saying she had four Yorkie puppies she wanted to sell.

When the dogs were delivered to the pet shop Thursday evening, a worker there took the person's name and license-plate number. Then he called Grovell, who drove to the store and claimed her puppies and their mother, Sarah.

"I was so happy to get mom and the puppies," Grovell said.

But Grovell said the dogs were dirty when she recovered them and the mother of the puppies was shaken up.

"I really have to give her a lot of love and care," she said.

Grovell said she thinks the people who stole her dogs were two women who recently came to see the puppies on the pretext that they were interested in buying them.

Grovell said the women heard about the puppies through her son, and she said she was going to sell the female puppies for $600 and the male puppies for $500. Yorkie puppies can often sell for more than $1,000, Grovell said.

"They acted like they were so interested," Grovell said. "I couldn't believe that someone would have the audacity to do something like that."

Grovell said she's anxious to recover Buster and Delilah, too. She said the woman who took the dogs to the pet shop told the store worker that she also had an adult male Yorkie she was keeping to breed, as well as a Yorkie-Chihuahua mix.

"I know they are not in good hands," she said. "I want them to have happy homes and love."

-- Reach Brock Parker at 505-5434 or bparker@yorkdispatch.com.

[GPONTLITZ]

I Hope The Others Are Recovered Soon, Hopefully The Little Baby's Will Be Okay From Their Upset. I Hope This Thread Will Have A Complete Happy Ending.. I'm Crossing My Fingers They All Make It Home!!!!!

[MIZBROWN]

Thats horrible and its amazing what some people will do for money!

[Kodak]

Just ridiculous how people can violate your space like this.

[MomToAria]

This makes me so sad and makes me so paranoid at the same time. I feel like I need to booby trap my house and when I walk Aria, bring a baseball bat, taser gun and pepper spray with me. This is crazy!!!

I'm glad she at least got 5 of her dogs back, hopefully she can find the other two. So heartbreaking....

[Mari-Lou]

It seems that when these people come to "see' the puppies that they scope out the house. Maybe showing the puppies to potential buyers another way other than at your homes would be best. If the puppies are too young to be shown somewhere else maybe some live video of them would be a good thing to do.

[Pixelate]

Originally Posted by Mari-Lou

It seems that when these people come to "see' the puppies that they scope out the house. Maybe showing the puppies to potential buyers another way other than at your homes would be best. If the puppies are too young to be shown somewhere else maybe some live video of them would be a good thing to do.

Well, that is exactly the problem here. It is not safe to let strangers into your home in today's society. Period.

I recently bought a chair on eBay. Since the seller was somewhat local, I told her I would rather pick it up than have it shipped. She refused to let me come to her house and instead had her parents meet me with the chair in a shopping center parking lot. This was only after I pretty much begged her to let me pick it up (and because no one else bid on the chair). I was kind of annoyed at the time that she was so paranoid but I totally understand why.

Hopefully this story will make someone else think twice about bringing strangers into their home and stop this from happening to them...

[Maineyorkiemom]

I cannot imagine the grief and terror at finding her yorkies (and pups) missing. Hope the babies are well, and praying that Buster and Delilah will be brought home soon. My prayers go out for the safe return.

[TammyJM]

How incredibly sad and frightening! I am so super paranoid about telling people that I have Yorkies because of craziness like this. When people see Livi they will typically ask if she is a Yorkie mix (some people don't know for sure because she is a parti color). I know it's bad but I tell them yes because I am too worried that anyone that knows how much the parti colors cost will take her. I just can't bring myself to tell people that she's a purebred because of how people are taking Yorkies due to their popularity....and also because her color is so uncommon.

Tammy

[WRScorpio]

I'm SO happy that she got her puppies and their mother back. Sounds like the owner gave them great care. Such a shame that people are so heartless and money-grubbing! Shame on whoever took the dogs from her home. Hopefully, with the information the store owner took down, they can track down the woman and get the male and her mix back, because I'm sure those are very precious to her as well!

[Ines3185lyorkie]

Here in Florida there have been stories on the news about dog boutiques being broken into and yorkies, especially, stolen. It doesn't help that the value of yorkies puppies is disclosed in the news stories. I have Shih Tzu's and a yorkie and live in a corner house with no fence. I have sometimes taken them out without a collar and harness and have seen cars stop because they don't see me or my husband we are behind our car. It's scary. These little ones are part of our families.

[joy and bella]

this is soo horrible. it scares me to death to think of someone takign my baby. i will pray this woman gets her other two dogs back . this is just so sad!!!! i think i am going to start telling people bella is a mix.

[joy and bella]

i always say that if God has to take bella from me, i pray that it is from my hands to His!

[rachelsyorkie]

I wish they would come up with a tracking device that works like the microchip. No matter what you do, If someone is determined to take your yorkies they will find a way. I'm glad she got them back & hope she gets the other 2 back. Hopefully her son may be able to remember where the ladies work or live & I would still press charges .

[Yorkiesforever]

That is awful I would die if someone stole my yorkies...........they are my world and my childrens.