By LESLIE GRIFFY
The Californian
Photo: Melody, a 7-month-old pitbull puppy, was apparently stolen from the Salinas Animal Shelter the weekend of May 7. / Provided photo
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Puppy needs meds to fight infection
An American Pit Bull Terrier puppy taken from the Salinas Animal Shelter has been returned, according to the Salinas Police Department.
An anonymous family found the puppy wandering in agricultural fields south of Salinas and returned it to the shelter after seeing its story on the news. — Updated 5:13 a.m.
A pitbull pup was apparently purloined from the city of Salinas’ animal shelter over the weekend.
Officials are flummoxed over the theft of the white-and-gray 7-month-old puppy they called Melody.
None of the offices locks were altered, said Cindy Burnham, the city’s Animal Services Manager.
“When we came in Sunday, she was gone,” Burnham said. “We’ve been trying to backtrack since then to figure out what happened.”
Did any of the people who looked at Melody, a favorite at the shelter, seem like the type to snag her? Could they have jumped a fence to break in? At this point no one knows. The last time a dog was stolen, about a year-and-half ago, someone entered through the back of the shelter.
No matter what, Burnham notes, “it is theft. You are stealing from the Police Department Animal Shelter.”
Most important, she said, is getting treatment for Melody. The pup was receiving antibiotics at the shelter to treat an infection related to her spay surgery. Without continued medication, the infection will only get worse.
“We want her back. We want to make sure she gets the care that she needs,” Burnham said. “We want to find her a good home, legally.”
Anyone with information about the disappeared dog is asked to call Salinas Animal Services at 831-758-7285.
