2 of 3 dogs stolen from PAWS Atlanta found safe, 1 remains missing

DECATUR, Ga. (CBS46) - Two of three dogs taken last week from PAWS Atlanta after an overnight break-in has been found safe.

PAWS Atlanta tweeted that Violet, one of the missing pit bull puppies, was spotted by a man who was out walking his dog on Sunday. They say Violet was tied to a telephone pole wearing a leash and harness when the man found her.

The man recognized the missing pup and took her to PAWS Atlanta where she is now safe.

The other missing pit bull puppy, Emilia, was found Friday night after someone recognized the pup from a photo that was posted on the Nextdoor app. Shelter employees said other than a few scratches and a hungry belly, she was unharmed.

The search continues for the last missing dog, a 3-year-old Yorkie named Princeton. A reward of $1,000 is being offered for Princeton’s safe return.

PREVIOUS UPDATE:

One of the three dogs stolen after a break-in at PAWS Animal shelter in Decatur was found Friday night after someone posted on the Nextdoor app.

PAWS Atlanta, which runs the shelter on Covington Highway in Decatur, posted about the news on Facebook early Saturday morning.

“Last night, September 16, around 8pm, a PAWS Atlanta volunteer spotted a photo of a puppy on the Nextdoor app that strongly resembled one of our missing pups. The dog had been wandering, scared, in someone’s yard for a few hours. The volunteer contacted PAWS Atlanta staff who immediately drove to the location and determined that it was, indeed, Emilia!”

ORIGINAL STORY:

A DeKalb County animal shelter was broken into overnight and several dogs were taken.

A man broke into the PAWS Atlanta animal shelter at 5287 Covington Highway in Decatur and stole three dogs, including two pit bull mix puppies and a Yorkie, according to the shelter. One other dog was found wandering nearby and is believed to have been dropped by the thief.

PAWS Atlanta posted pictures of the three dogs on Facebook. The post was shared by nearly 900 people and garnered more than 400 likes.

“We’re pretty sure it’s not one of our staff members, but maybe it could have been someone who has been volunteering here doing community service. We just don’t know,” Shelter Manager Laura McKelvey said.

A PAWS Atlanta employee tells CBS46 that the man smashed a window and gained entry to the shelter around 3 a.m. and immediately covered up the security cameras before stealing the dogs.

“That’s really what we want most of all is to get the dogs back,” McKelvey said.

PAWS says DeKalb Police responded and are looking through surveillance video to try and identify the man.

If you have any information, contact DeKalb PD.

PAWS says DeKalb Police responded and are looking through surveillance video to try and identify the man.

If you have any information, contact DeKalb PD.

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