A 16-year-old girl walked out of Puppy Stop with the dog under her arm
Photo from the Osage Beach Police Department
OSAGE BEACH, MO. -- A 2-month-old Miniature Pinscher stolen from Puppy Stop was found by authorities after being dumped in a ravine Friday evening.
A 16-year-old girl left the store, located in the 4200 block of Osage Beach Parkway, with the 3-pound puppy under her arm, then left in a black Jeep Cherokee driven by 19-year-old Alexander Hutson.
Osage Beach police responded to Puppy Stop at about 4:45 p.m., where they met witnesses who had followed the Jeep east on the parkway to get its license plate number.
While officers were receiving information, Sgt. David Schwenn saw the Jeep enter and leave the Wal-Mart parking lot.
The couple didn't have the puppy when the vehicle was stopped and said they dumped the Min Pin in a ravine behind the Osage Beach Premium Outlet Mall. The temperature was only 37 degrees and getting colder.
Schwenn searched the area on foot for about two hours, finally locating the puppy several hundred yards from where the couple dumped her.
According to a press release from authorities, "(Schwenn) could hear the puppy whimpering and found her shivering and thankful to see him. The puppy would not have survived the night...and it was sheer luck that she was found."
The 16-year-old female was taken into custody and later released to her guardian, pending charges from Camden County Juvenile authorities. Hutson was charged with felony stealing of an animal, and is being held in the Camden County Jail on a bond of $2500 and $25,000 surety.
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