Snuggles Found

This came across my dog radar recently. It is about some people whose dog was dognapped. After several days they found her. Usually these stories do not have such a happy ending. Weredogs will mobilize to aid in search and rescues in such situations, if we find out about them. But, there is a risk - if we find the dognappers first. We are not supposed to harm people, ever, with very strict exceptions. 

I sometimes wonder if these dognappers are often werewolves. I would not be surprised if they are. Safeties are always on with people, always off with werewolves. But, maybe with dognappers they ought to be off. I have to bring that up for discussion before the next grand pack meeting. 

Yes she was found on Sunday, 6 days after she was taken.

Law enforcement believe it is a ring of dog thieves that have been working the Midwest for quite awhile and seem to be very elusive.

Police were able to link her disappearance to a complaint in southern Wisconsin of barking dogs and a lot of "night time" activity. From that complaint they were able to discover the identities of the two people who matched the description of the ones who took her.

They also got a description of the van:

A dark blue panel van late 90's Ford Econoline.

The tag was only a partial IL tag 598-1 ???

From there the trail led to a Flea Market / Swap meet where a different police agency had been gathering info that stolen dogs were being sold..  that lead then developed into some background that the dogs being sold were distributed from a location in the UP of Michigan.

Yet another police agency involved , and located and abandoned barn with about 200 dog kennels. There was evidence of recent activity in the barn..

From there my husband and I took it upon ourselves to canvas the area which is pretty darn remote. We spent over 18 hours Saturday afternoon, evening and on into Sunday driving up and down dirt roads, back into fields you name it we looked there.

Call it Divine providence or intervention but we happened down a very remote road through a stand of trees and found a dump site piled with kennels.

Our Maggie was there, cold, soaking wet and with some minor injuries.

There was evidence that this location has been used many times before.. bodies etc in various states of decay.

This is an on going investigation so I can't be more specific then that until the police wrap things up , hopefully with some arrests.

A little background on the ring itself:

It is believed to be a supplier of dogs to bunchers who sell to Class B dealers for medical research.

They also are believed to supply bait dogs for dog fighting rings and Pit Bull pups as well.

They frequently use vans, pick up trucks and small livestock trailers to transport animals from state to state.

Vans and pickups with camper tops often have the words "ANIMAL RESCUE" "PET RESCUE" or ANIMAL MANAGEMENT - be aware of these vehicles in neighborhoods cruising looking for dogs.

They frequently work in teams, man & woman, or two men.

They also change locations frequently and will use abandoned barns, farms etc to house dogs prior to distribution.