Shon
07-21-2004, 10:25 PM
MIDDLEBORO -- A man and two juveniles will face charges for breaking into the town's dog pound twice over the last two months and stealing the same pit bull, police said.
In between the two break-ins, police say, the three vandalized the pound.
Police are not releasing the suspects' names, but Detective Robert W. Lake said criminal summonses have been issued and all three will be formally charged in Wareham District Court. Among the charges are breaking and entering, but Lake would not elaborate further.
Lake said Zippy the dog was first stolen June 11 and was stolen again July 4.
Lake developed a lead that directed him to the woods off Forest Street, where Zippy was found chained to a tree, dehydrated and malnourished on July 11.
"The perpetrators got rid of the dog when they found out police were on to them," Lake said.
Lake said he did not know why the dog was singled out to be stolen.
"They wanted a dog, and they went back to get it again," he said.
"A lot of their friends have this type of dog," Lake explained.
When Zippy was taken from the pound on June 11, she escaped her captors and ended up on an Everett Street doorstep a few days later.
On June 30, the pound was broken into again. This time, the animal control officer's office was ransacked, with equpiment and furnishings badly damaged.
Animal Control Officer William Wyatt said the pit bull is awaiting a psychological evaluation because the owner, Austin Zipp, appealed selectmen's euthanasia order in May.
Zipp asked for the dog to be evaluated before a judge made a decision, and the case was continued to Aug. 20.
Zippy was ordered destroyed after Wyatt said he was the victim of an unprovoked attack. Wyatt said Zippy escaped a fenced-in, vacant used-car lot at 562 Wareham St. and attacked him from behind.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation took fingerprints and DNA samples of blood found during the June break-in, but Lake said the bureau is backlogged and results could take up to a year.
After the June break-in, Zippy was moved to an undisclosed location, but Wyatt said. "The town didn't have the funds to continue paying board fees and the dog was brought back."
Lake would not disclose the names of the suspects, but said two are from Middleboro and two were bitten.
He added that he believes Zipp is not involved.
"That poor dog has been so abused," Zipp said when he heard the latest developments. "She hasn't bitten anyone in five years. It's hard to understand."
Zipp said if the dog thieves got bit, "I'm sure they were abusing the dog."
Zipp is having trouble coming up with the money for an animal behavior specialist. He said it will cost close to $1,000 for the evaluation and expects to spend up to $5,000 after attorney fees are added.
Zipp said he is worried about his dog and plans to visit her soon.
Lake and Wyatt would not say where Zippy is now being kept, but that she is in a safe, secure location.
Wyatt said he is paying the veterinarian bills, not the town.
In between the two break-ins, police say, the three vandalized the pound.
Police are not releasing the suspects' names, but Detective Robert W. Lake said criminal summonses have been issued and all three will be formally charged in Wareham District Court. Among the charges are breaking and entering, but Lake would not elaborate further.
Lake said Zippy the dog was first stolen June 11 and was stolen again July 4.
Lake developed a lead that directed him to the woods off Forest Street, where Zippy was found chained to a tree, dehydrated and malnourished on July 11.
"The perpetrators got rid of the dog when they found out police were on to them," Lake said.
Lake said he did not know why the dog was singled out to be stolen.
"They wanted a dog, and they went back to get it again," he said.
"A lot of their friends have this type of dog," Lake explained.
When Zippy was taken from the pound on June 11, she escaped her captors and ended up on an Everett Street doorstep a few days later.
On June 30, the pound was broken into again. This time, the animal control officer's office was ransacked, with equpiment and furnishings badly damaged.
Animal Control Officer William Wyatt said the pit bull is awaiting a psychological evaluation because the owner, Austin Zipp, appealed selectmen's euthanasia order in May.
Zipp asked for the dog to be evaluated before a judge made a decision, and the case was continued to Aug. 20.
Zippy was ordered destroyed after Wyatt said he was the victim of an unprovoked attack. Wyatt said Zippy escaped a fenced-in, vacant used-car lot at 562 Wareham St. and attacked him from behind.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation took fingerprints and DNA samples of blood found during the June break-in, but Lake said the bureau is backlogged and results could take up to a year.
After the June break-in, Zippy was moved to an undisclosed location, but Wyatt said. "The town didn't have the funds to continue paying board fees and the dog was brought back."
Lake would not disclose the names of the suspects, but said two are from Middleboro and two were bitten.
He added that he believes Zipp is not involved.
"That poor dog has been so abused," Zipp said when he heard the latest developments. "She hasn't bitten anyone in five years. It's hard to understand."
Zipp said if the dog thieves got bit, "I'm sure they were abusing the dog."
Zipp is having trouble coming up with the money for an animal behavior specialist. He said it will cost close to $1,000 for the evaluation and expects to spend up to $5,000 after attorney fees are added.
Zipp said he is worried about his dog and plans to visit her soon.
Lake and Wyatt would not say where Zippy is now being kept, but that she is in a safe, secure location.
Wyatt said he is paying the veterinarian bills, not the town.