AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Humane Society is looking for a woman who allegedly stole a 4-month-old puppy by concealing him in her purse and slipping out through a staff entrance Tuesday evening.
The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. when the woman arrived at the shelter at 124 W. Anderson Lane inquiring about adopting a puppy named Chico, according to the humane society.
She filled out a standard adoption application and was placed in a visitation room to meet the dog. Shortly after, she allegedly placed Chico in her purse and left through a volunteer and staff-only exit.
Staff did not immediately notice she had gone, but security cameras captured her leaving the facility at 6:20 p.m.
The Austin Humane Society is looking for a woman who allegedly stole a 4-month-old puppy by concealing him in her purse and slipping out through a staff entrance Tuesday evening. (Photo: Austin Humane Society)
Security footage shows the woman wearing a camouflage-patterned T-shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers, and carrying a large black tote bag. She has dark hair pulled back and appeared to be clutching the bag close to her body.
Contact information she provided on the adoption application turned out to be unusable, the shelter said.
Chico is a black and brown wire-haired terrier mix weighing 7 pounds. He had been in the shelter’s care for about a day before the theft and was awaiting a neuter procedure. He is microchipped and has been reported stolen to the microchip company and the Austin Police Department.
The Austin Humane Society is looking for a woman who allegedly stole a 4-month-old puppy by concealing him in her purse and slipping out through a staff entrance Tuesday evening. (Photo: Austin Humane Society)
“We just want to see Chico come back to us safely,” said Frances Jonon, AHS president and CEO. “He’s only a few months old and still needs to be neutered. We want to make sure he gets the care he needs so he can be adopted into a loving home.”
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Anyone with information is asked to contact the Austin Humane Society at 512-646-7387 or media@austinhumanesociety.org. Chico can also be returned directly to the shelter with no questions asked during operating hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.