Left: Shantelle, Macauley and Karissa are glad to have their dog Casper back, but still haven’t found Casper’s son Dopey, who they believe was stolen last weekend.By Cam Scott
A DOUBLE dognapping has left a Narre Warren family in despair and growing more distraught as each day passes.
Debbie Howard and her family returned home last Saturday to find their white and ginger cocker spaniel cross dogs, Casper and Casper’s son Dopey, both missing after their Wallowa Crescent house was broken into.
After arriving home in the afternoon to find the front door ajar and two of the family’s three dogs gone, Ms Howard’s daughter Shantelle assumed the dogs had run away, but after checking with neighbours, a different story unfolded and panic set in.
Two neighbours told corroborating stories of a car that had entered the house’s driveway at about 2pm hearing dogs barking at the same time.
The car, believed to have been burgundy in colour, was only there a short time.
“We were panicking initially, but as day turned to night we started crying and haven’t stopped since Saturday,” Ms Howard said.
“We all went hunting for them and we have been hunting day and night since Saturday.
“Each and everyone of us in the family who can drive has been out.
“We’ve rung the council, every single vet we can find, (and) shelters even as far as North Melbourne.”
In a strange twist, Casper returned while the family was searching on Sunday, squeezing back into the house through a narrow window opening, and confirming fears that the dogs had been stolen.
“That was 22 hours after he’d been taken,” Ms Howard said.
“If he had been out adventuring he’d have been wet and full of mud, but he wasn’t.
“He was as dry as a bone, clean as a whistle but he had injuries. His paws looked like he’d been trying to get out of something as his paws had cuts and were bleeding.
Dopey is still missing, however, increasing the family’s concerns.
“I have hardly eaten. I feel absolutely useless. I don’t know what else to do,” Ms Howard said.
“He’s just a timid shy little thing and if he is out there somewhere he would be petrified.
“If people have him and he’s in the state Casper was in when we found him on Sunday, I’d hate to think of the condition he’d be in right now.
“It’s just like an arm or a leg has been chopped off. Our heart has been ripped out, it’s horrible, absolutely horrible.”
Detectives from the Narre Warren CIU are investigating, but the family is worried.
“Please just help us,” Ms Howard said.
“We’ve got grave concerns for the dog, extremely grave concerns for the poor dog that’s out there. He’s like one of our children and has been raised like one of our kids.
“No matter how trivial you think your information might be, it might be the one link we need to get him home. I’d give anything to have him home.”
Anyone with information that may lead to Dopey, the white and ginger cocker spaniel cross, being found should contact Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Ross at Narre Warren CIU on 9705 3111.
