Stolen West Seattle pugs update: Message from their owner

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When we got the news last night about the safe return of the stolen Arbor Heights pugs, we asked owner Marsha Lubetkin if she could send a photo when she got a chance to catch her breath. The photo you see above just came in tonight, along with this note explaining more about the circumstances of the pugs’ return:

I wanted to thank your blog and everyone who helped us search for our pugs, Bandit & Pippin. It is such a happy ending and they are both fine and very glad to be home.

I do want to let everyone know that today I spoke with the woman who took them to the King Co Animal Shelter and she really was a good samaritan. She lives in the Skyway area near Renton and returned home from shopping about 5:00 yesterday with her brother and cousin and found 2 pugs in her yard. She had not watched the news or read the newspapers, so had not heard about Bandit & Pippin. They checked with all their neighbors and no one knew who owned the pugs. Her father told her to take them to a shelter, so she and her brother googled where the nearest shelter was and took them to Kent. She just wanted the dogs to get back to their owners, but felt the staff at the shelter were very suspicious of her and wanted all kinds of ID and she felt she was treated with disrespect. I think it was all a misunderstanding on each side. … After talking with her, I do believe her and thanked her for getting our pugs back to us. She did exactly the right thing and without her they could still be missing. She refused the reward, but I told her I was sending her a check anyway. She is the reason our pugs are home tonight. Thanks for spreading the word.

As for how the dogs got into that yard — still a mystery.

10 Replies to "Stolen West Seattle pugs update: Message from their owner"

  • JT August 22, 2008 (11:52 pm)

    Nicest family portrait I’ve seen in a long time. Very happy for all of you.

  • *t* August 22, 2008 (11:54 pm)

    I wonder why those pugnacious folks at the shelter had a bone to pick with the rescuer? Well, thanks WSB for doggedly sticking with this story. And I hope the cops to collar the robbers. We’ll all keep trying to sniff them out.

  • WSB August 22, 2008 (11:56 pm)

    It’s been quite a “tail” to tell.

  • bl@ster August 23, 2008 (12:54 am)

    Those blessed doggies. Glad they’re back safe and sound.

  • Andrew August 23, 2008 (7:47 am)

    Thank God!

  • snowlion August 23, 2008 (8:04 am)

    I heard that they were found on my way to work the other morning. Quite happy; it’s amazing that they stayed together! Hopefully the authorities can find whomever did this. It’s one thing to steal a radio or computer, but our pets cannot be replaced. Good news! :)

  • deb August 23, 2008 (8:47 am)

    I wish every missing-pet story had such a happy ending! Thanks so much for sending and posting that wonderful photo; it’s a great epilogue to this story.

  • Cali August 23, 2008 (9:59 pm)

    these little dogs are adorable! So happy to see they made it home!

  • Jenny August 24, 2008 (11:27 am)

    > I wonder why those pugnacious folks at the shelter had a bone to pick with the rescuer?

    I assume it’s because the dognapping made the news, so every shelter would be at least a little suspicious of anyone who would bring them in.

  • marianne August 25, 2008 (8:57 am)

    I’ve been away from internet access for a few days, but did hear that the pugs were home safe. Am thankful that West Seattle Blog got the story out there, the other media picked it up and that the heartbreaking ordeal for the owners and dogs had a happy ending!

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