PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Lake Worth Beach woman is accused of refusing to return two Cane Corso puppies she agreed to foster and threatening to take the dogs out of the country, according to a West Palm Beach Police Department arrest report.
Jamie Lynn Barlow, 47, was arrested on one count of grand theft involving property valued between $750 and $5,000.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Barlow agreed July 15 to foster two purebred Cane Corso puppies named Fresita and Gordo. The organization that owned the dogs estimated each puppy’s value at approximately $3,000, for a combined value of about $6,000.
Police said Barlow signed a foster agreement acknowledging that the puppies remained the organization’s property and had to be returned immediately upon request.
Employees contacted Barlow two days later to arrange the puppies’ return, but investigators said she gave several excuses and refused to bring them back.
During another phone call July 18, Barlow allegedly said she intended to keep the puppies. The report states that she threatened to “start a war” with the organization, made threats about burning it to the ground and said she would take the dogs out of the country.
Employees and Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies later went to Barlow’s home to retrieve the puppies, according to the affidavit. Police said Barlow spoke through a locked door but refused to open it or surrender the animals.
A Lake Worth Beach woman is accused of keeping two fostered Cane Corso puppies valued at $3,000 each and refusing repeated demands to return them. (Palm Beach County Jail)
A witness familiar with Barlow told investigators he saw the puppies in her possession after she entered the foster agreement, the report states.
See also: Former MorseLife social worker accused of stealing $31K from elderly patient
Investigators said Barlow lawfully obtained the dogs as a foster but later demonstrated an intent to permanently deprive their owner of them by refusing repeated requests for their return.
An arrest warrant was issued, and Barlow was taken into custody on the felony grand theft charge. The report does not state whether Fresita and Gordo had been recovered.