Thumper. missing cat. Siamese-looking

My buddy, my pal!

UPDATE: MOLLY RETURNED!!! 7/21/09 tuesday 8)

here is the email from Molly's owners:

Hello all:

We wanted to let everyone know the wonderful news that our beloved Molly dog was recovered late tonight by the Metropolitan Police Department.  She is back home and seems to be in good health, although tired.  I plan to take her to the vet tomorrow.  

The MPD District 3 investigator, who did an excellent job, couldn't give me all of the details because of the way criminal investigations work.  However, he did say that the woman who had her appeared to have mental health issues. I am hopeful that some court-ordered mental health treatment for the woman will result from this so that she does not take other dogs in the future, or spiral into more destructive behavior.

In any event, we want to offer our most heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us and provided tips and leads.  Without those leads, it's unlikely the police would have had enough information to justify spending time investigating.  I should also say that before the MPD investigator was assigned to the case, a D3 officer was very helpful in working with us.  We will write letters commending both of them to their supervising officers....
 
Thanks again.

UPDATES below the initial 6/29 description of dog theft

.

6/29 Monday: Dog Stolen from Whole Foods/14th & P Street N.W. "Vizsla" breed. Name = MOLLY

Possible connection of this stolen dog with the eyewitness account of a woman carrying away Thumper, stealing him; also look at the section called "STOLEN? Eyewitness acct."  Anyone reading this info on my Thumpercat website, please also be on the lookout for the dog and the woman described below--especially the woman, because maybe this is the same woman that was seen carrying away my cat!!!  AND, if you see this woman who stole Molly, please also forward that info to me as well (to add to my missing-cat info, to find this woman, also...). Please keep in mind, if Molly is found with the woman, then maybe Thumper will be in her possession, too--and vice versa!

Fyi, the Whole Foods described below is only three blocks from my location, from where Thumper was taken! Also, one of the Molly/woman sightings, where the woman and Molly was walking eastward at the 15th/Q Street intersection, is only three blocks from me... AND she was walking "East" meaning down Q Street, towards my 12th street location--therefore, walking in the same direction as the woman seen walking away with Thumper; Thumper's thief was also walking down EAST on Q Street. 

 

from www.washingtondc/craigslist/pets 6/29

"Stolen Dog Female Vizsla from Logan Circle Whole Foods 14th and P St (DC NW/Logan Circle/14th and P)"

Reply to: artpongs@yahoo.com [Errors when replying to ads?]

Date: 2009-06-29, 11:30PM EDT

Please be careful when leaving your dog outside of stores, someone is snatching up pets. A client of mine informed me today that their female Vizsla, around 7yrs old has been stolen from outside of Whole Foods Monday June 29th at 6pm!!! She has she has short, red/rust hair, is about 60-70lbs, has a distinct scar from a past surgery on the inside right hind leg near her knee. She also has a pink, nylon collar with cupcakes around it if it was not removed already. She is chipped and AKC is already notified of her missing. RESPONDS to her name Molly, does not have much interest in other dogs, LOVES people (she likes to bury her face between your legs) and loves to play fetch. Please, if anyone saw anyone suspicious or has any leads to her contact any of us immediately! Owners are offering reward for her safe return. 

Tyler 415-505-3857 
Lauren 202-885-9534 
Art 202-437-7462 

If you see this woman and Molly, you can also call police as we have a report #CCN091247 and let them know where she is they will come right away. She may also have been stealing cats from the area as well.http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/pet/1246887382.html 


She has been sighted this morning June 30th in the morning around am rush hr at the intersections of 15th and Q Street. I will be scanning that area this evening and tomorrow am by bicycle. I will copy and paste descriptions - 

--- I think I saw Molly this morning on my way to work at the southeast corner of 15th and Q St. NW. She was not on a leash, so I remember being concerned that she would not run into traffic. She was being trailed by about 5-6 feet by a woman with thick, sort-of bushy grey-brown hair. The woman was wearing a light jade green knit top and shorts, I think. I also think she had a round, straw sun hat on. She was carrying a light blue leash in her hand and so I thought that maybe she was the owner -- but I guess not. I think they were together walking east. 

--- One guy said he saw a kind of unkempt 
woman with wild redish hair messing with a dog that matched Molly's 
description last night outside Whole Foods, and another guy said he 
saw a vizsla without a collar this morning at 15th and Q. Both had 
seen the flyers outside WF. 

---I'm 95% positive I saw Molly this morning, walking without a leash, at the 
> corner of 15th and Q St. NW. It was certainly strange to see such a 
> beautiful dog without a leash or owner. 
> 
> After a moment, an older woman with wild, stringy hair wearing a green dress 
> walked by, and seemed to be "following" the dog at a safe distance, rather 
> than actually walking it. 
> 
> My neighbor has also confirmed this sighting, as well as the odd woman. 

> Please be on the lookout!  

AGAIN, my thumpercat readers: ANYONE reading this info, from my Thumpercat website, please also be on the lookout for this dog and THE WOMAN--especially the woman, because maybe this is the same woman that was seen carrying away my cat!!!  AND, if you see this woman, please also forward that info to me as well (to add to my missing-cat info, to find this woman, also...). Please keep in mind, if Molly is found with the woman, then maybe Thumper will be in her possession, too--and vice versa! .

7/2 Thursday evening UPDATE: Cleveland Park Petco sighting (Twice) and Logan Circle continued sightings

"Tyler Newby" <findmollydog@gmail.com> email 10:22pm

We're sending this update to everyone who has provided leads on sightings of Molly dog and who has expressed support for us in our search for her.

We've had a number of confirmed sightings and we have a distinct profile of the woman who took Molly.  She has been described as a middle-aged, short, slender, light-skinned woman who may be of Latina or of mixed Latina / Caucasian ethnicity.  She has also been described as having rather bushy dark to reddish hair, which may be pulled into a bun, or loose.  Her behavior is apparently quite erratic.  She also drives a black sedan.

She has been seen twice at Petco in Cleveland Park with Molly - once on Monday night and again tonight.  We are positive that it is Molly because the store manager and a customer (and Vizsla owner) described the dog as having a shaved patch on one of her forelegs.  Molly has this patch from an IV for dental surgery last week.  When the woman took her into Petco on Monday night, she still had her pink cupcake collar with tags.  When she was in the store tonight, she was wearing a black harness with no collar.  The woman told a customer tonight that someone gave her the dog.  This description matches that of the one eyewitness who saw a person "messing" with Molly the night she was taken.

A woman fitting this description has also been seen by number of you in the neighborhood with a dog we think is Molly between Logan and Dupont in the mornings.  We have been casing the area, but seem to be just missing them. 

I'm trying to get Petco's video footage.  If I do, I will send a picture around.  In the meantime, please keep your eyes out.

Thanks for all your help.  We're sure we will get her back, and we are at least feeling better knowing that she is probably being treated humanely.

With love and thanks,

Tyler and Laurel

 

7/3 Video and Still images now obtained from a Petco security camera (in addition to employees' eyewitness account of the women, the woman's words about Molly being given to her). Proof of Molly being stolen after all.

7/3 email from owners:

 Hi All:

I was able to obtain some still shots from the Petco security camera of the woman who has Molly.  They aren't great quality, but they give an idea of her build and her hair.  The store manager says she is probably in her 40s - 50s, even though she looks a bit younger in these photos.  Unfortunately, she paid in cash, and the Petco bonus card she used goes back to someone entirely different (the police paid them a visit last night).  

Also, I have to put a plug in for the Cleveland Park Petco.  The staff there has been really helpful.  

Thanks, 
Tyler and Laurel 
 
7/3 craigslist update with the photos:
 
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/pet/1252629634.html