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Pomeranian stolen from Ojai shelter
Courtesy photo A reward has been offered for information leading to the return of Cinnamon, a red Pomeranian dog that was recently snatched from the Humane Society of Ventura County's kennel in Ojai.
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Someone broke into the Humane Society of Ventura County's Ojai kennel and stole a 4- year-old Pomeranian named Cinnamon, a shelter spokeswoman said Saturday.
The dog was taken Monday night, and Sheriff's Department officers are still looking for the culprit and the dog, described as "extremely nervous."
"She's a beautiful red Pomeranian, which is unusual," said the Humane Society's Kathleen Kaiser. She said that to her knowledge it was the first time a burglar had broken into the shelter and taken an animal.
The dog was found about two weeks ago and had been at the shelter since then. "She was very terrified," Kaiser said. "We think she might have been abused and dumped."
Four families wanted to adopt the dog, she said, but the 30-day waiting period for the owners to reclaim the dog had not passed.
The dog's absence came to light after the shelter's groundskeeper discovered the back gate lock had been cut and the gate left open, Kaiser said. Sheriff's officers surveyed the area and found nothing unusual, but the next morning Cinnamon's kennel was found empty.
The dog and a blanket she had become attached to were missing.
"We think the thief had to cover her in her blanket to get her out of the kennel as she must have resisted," said Jolene Hoffman, the shelter's director. "She was recently spayed, has a shaved stomach and is extremely nervous." The dog weighs 10.8 pounds, larger than the average Pomeranian.
"We're very concerned about her safety," Hoffman said. A reward for an undisclosed amount of money is being offered for information that leads to the dog's return.
She has a microchip implanted so local veterinarians can be on the lookout for her. The chip number is #00068BCFC0.
Anyone with information regarding the dog's whereabouts can call 646-6505 or 656-5031.
Posted by rebel123 on July 8, 2007 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the kook calling herself a pet psychic who is believed to have stolen a cat from a local business (because the cat "told" her he was unhappy there) is now busting animals out of the doggy clink. I seriously doubt anybody would take this dog with bad intentions. I agree witht he first post....very likely they were interested in adoption but either couldn't afford the ridiculous fees for adoption or were not "passed" by the staff for adopting. And what's with keeping a doggie in stir for a month when somebody wants it? Is that quarantine for the dog's safety? What an unhappy place to be.
Posted by clementine on July 8, 2007 at 10:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The bottom line is that someone "stole" this dog and that's illegal. Whatever the shelter charges for a pet is totally worth it. If you can't afford the fees, you definitely shouldn't own a pet. Pet care costs money - especially when they're older! The person who stole this dog will get caught very soon. Let's post his/her photo in the Star.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 8, 2007 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep, I have to agree with the majority here. Although it is stealing and I do not condone it. I don't exactly think its a big enough deal to put in the headlines. And I have to agree its just rediculous to pay that to adopt a pet. Although I have......... Its just way to much and if they would lower to price, more people could have a pet and then they would have to kill less of them after thirty days.
Why do they keep them for thirty days? So the true owner can find them if they are lost and not wearing thier license. If you do not have a micro-chip you may as well forget it. I went every five days for a month or more to see if my dog was found. Although he was such a good dog Im sure someone just took him home and kept him.
I say lower ther price and people can afford the five bucks a week for food. Also there are many programs out there for free dog spaying etc. Shots? you can buy the seven in one at the mill. Its easy to give the dog shots. Well for me it was. The only shot you can't buy is the rabies shot. So save money for that !
Posted by avonrep12 on July 9, 2007 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow...I'm very surprised at how misinformed people are that made their comments. First of all the shelter in Ojai is a non kill shelter. Secondly, if for any reason I was to lose one of my dogs, I would certainly hope that it would make it to a shelter and they would hold it for me 30 days to give me a chance to retrieve it. Also, the Mill has been closed down for years now. No shots available there!!
Noone has the right to steal an animal anywhere. The fees are warranted. Homes are checked thoroughly before a dog is released. Wise up!
Posted by rebel123 on July 9, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I stroll the pound in Ojai often just for recreation, and while everyone working there is wonderful, the dogs are in a concrete enclosure, surrounded by barking, howling, whining, and yodelling dogs. If I lost my dog, I'd call within the first freaking moments I knew the dog was gone! In an ideal world, we'd have foster homes for all unwanted pets. And when did Ojai go no kill? Or are you saying that they just ship the dead dogs walking down to Camarillo to snuff? I know when our kitty went missing and I called Ojai, they said someone on my street (in Ojai) was trapping cats and they were taken to the Camarillo shelter. They only kept them there 48hours and then they killed them. I think there's probably room for thinking the rightful owner of this pup did not have the funds to break him out of stir and took matters into his/her own hands. I'm not condoning that....but I also think there's room for improvement on how long an adoptable pet has to stay in a concrete bunker.
Posted by Ambz on July 10, 2007 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ok first off, do you know how much it is for that shelter to feed bathe and maintain the animals they have there?? I believe the fees are fine. And as for those who are whining about the 30 day grace period. Just wait til your beloved pet fluffy has disappeared. You will thank GOD that they kept him there for you. I know this from personal experience. So yeah, the land was donated to them, but what about the water bills?? or the electric?? It has to get payed somehow, not to mention the wages for the people who work there. THINK ABOUT IT!! They arent selling any thing but the fees for adoption right??
Posted by Ambz on July 10, 2007 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
keep telling yourself that...maybe one day someone will believe ya!!
Posted by lifelong_pet_lover on July 11, 2007 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wideopenweb, I think they should drop all the animals at YOUR house. Since tax payers don't pay for the Humane Society, generous people like you should donate their home to lost/unwanted animals. If you can't manage that it would be nice if you gave up your weekly allowance to help these poor critters.
Wouldn't it be nice if The Humane Society didn't have to exist? But that would mean that pet owners would have to:
1. Take the responsibility of spaying/neutering their animals. If their animals do procreate, take the responsibility of finding homes for ALL of them.
2. Owners of Fido or Fluffy would have to be smart enough at adoption time to know that:
* animals grow up (won't stay puppies or kittens forever)
*That they might not live in the same place forever and may have to move. That means moving the animal(s) with them, or finding a place that accepts animals (dog owners can be particularly ignorant of this fact).
* That animals require care, and that means workaholics that are never home should not have animal (except fish, but that's even risky). *That a secure yard or home is necessary to keep Fido or Fluffy from breaking free from their dysfunctional home. It's sad that humane officers have to take time to check a person's house because potential adopters lie, or are clueless about the fact their "situation" (a 400 sq. foot apt.) isn't appropriate for a german shepherd.
* That owners are smart enough to keep Fido and Fluffy around, so that they aren't left with dodging cars or coyotes in order to stay alive.
* That there aren't sick people out there who:
*need 134 cats to keep them company
* remember to feed/water their pets, so that they don't starve to death or die from heat exposure.
*That animal abusers didn't exist (this is a huge wast of money, don't you think?)
Yes, in a perfect world The Humane Society (funded by donations) and Animal Regulation (the best your tax dollars can get, that's a county organization paid for by home owners...don't complain about the 48 hrs. unless you want to donate for another facility)should not have to exist. But they DO exist because for some reason, people are absolutely clueless to any of this logic when it comes to adopting an animal.
As far as Cinnamon's picture goes...I believe it's being posted for Cinnamon's sake not for your entertainment. In Ojai, a story like this IS TOP NEWS.We care about animals.There ARE many people who donate their time to taking care of the critters there. Duh! Stop by sometime and check it out, you might be surprised at how much love is being given those animals.
Blood and gore stories belong in the Ventura/Oxnard section, sorry if our Ojai life is too Mayberry for you. WE like it that way.
To the directors, employees, and volunteers of The Human Society blessings to you all for the tireless work you do. Don't bother with these fools.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on July 13, 2007 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
avonrep12 , Well excuse me ! Didn't realize they had a dog pound that didn't eventually put the animals down. Hmmm must be pretty over ran with animals then. Do you know which mill I'm talking about?
If not the Fillmore R&R ranch sells the shots also.
I still feel the fee's are way too much........
Rebel I agree, although when I did call each day they wouldn't tell me if they found my dog. Even though I had the full description. They MADE me go to both and check.........
Ambz,Your right about the thirty days. I would hope they would give people ample time to find thier pets. As far as the fee's I stand behind the fact its over what it should be. Alot of people that work thier are volunteers. Baths? No dog gets a bath everyday. It takes three days for the dogs temperature to return to normal after a bath. The water bills etc? They certainly cant be all that much.
lifelong_pet_lover ,Ya have to be kidding me ! Do you think Ojai is the only place where animals are loved and taken care of? And what the heck does Oxnard have to do with this article? I bet and would put money on it that there are many cities in the county that take just as good care of thier animals as OJAI. Or Mayberry as you call it !
My dog was in a fenced BIG back yard. Unfortunately so was the electric meter !! We gave him a key to the lock, unfortunately he didn't make sure it was locked when he left !!
Posted by sober101796 on July 24, 2007 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Ojai shelter is a great way to pick your pet, I too agree with all the people saying that the fee's go for a good cause, I found my beloved "Bizkit Boy" there and the majority of the person's working there are volunteer's but not alot of people will or can voluteer, are you volunteering??? as for foster homes, that would be great, are you a a foster parent? alot of people like to comment on the issue but will NOT get involved, that is what is sad, not to mention that someone took this beautiful animal, that is one of the reasons that there are so many unwanted pets, people take animals then deceide that they made a mistake and drop the animal off on someone else block, like someone said before, the cost to house one of these animals is alot, medical, food, chips and the list can go on, I am a animal lover and back the Ojai Valley animal shelter, put some of this energy into the bill that should be passed,the one that will make unresponsible pet owners to fix their pets (property)as some like to call owning a pet, the one Bob Barker is involved with.
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