'Traumatic time': Mum's plea to find daughter's service dog and second pet
A West Australian family is appealing for the return of two dogs, one of them a service canine, which they believe were stolen from their home.
Glenda Howes, who lives in Eaton – south of Perth – with 25-year-old daughter Olivia, said she was out doing a driving lesson on April 14 only to return home and find the side gate open.
“Olivia ran out of the car and around the back of the house and realised someone had gotten in through the back door,” Ms Howes told Yahoo News Australia.
“The dogs are normally locked inside in their playpen but they were gone. Olivia came outside screaming like a banshee.
“‘They’ve taken the dogs, they’ve taken the pups’, she screamed.”
The family has two miniature Schnauzers named Huffington, or Huffy, and Moby.
Moby is four months old and is being trained as a service dog for Olivia who has social anxiety.
Ms Howes believes the two dogs were stolen. She says she has reported the theft to police and has hired a pet detective.
It has been a week and the mum is worried about the toll Moby’s absence is taking on her daughter.
“It’s been quite a traumatic time for her,” she said.
“She has crippling social anxiety and Moby has been assisting her.
“He’s sensitive to his owner having panic attacks and it’s really helped her. Moby’s made her more peaceful, more fun – which is absolutely huge.
“But now she’s gone back into her shell.”
Ms Howes added Huffy was her “soul and universe”.
“Huffy sleeps beside me every night,” she said.
“She’s very bonded to me. Both dogs are from the same breeder.”
The mum appealed to whoever took the dogs to return them.
She has started a GoFundMe page to raise awareness and hopefully pay for any extra expenses the pet detective might have.
“We just really need our dogs back,” she said.
“Please just return them. Call the ranger anonymously and hand them in if you need to. Just make contact so they can be returned as soon as possible.”
Western Australia Police has been contacted for comment.
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