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Subscribe to RSSA couple in Pennsylvania is facing criminal charges for selling their neighbor’s lost puppy on Craigslist instead of returning it, according to police.
Police in Leechburg, Pa., said two dogs, a Rottweiler and a golden retriever mix, wandered onto the property of Scott Duff, 41, and Roxanne Duff, 38, on September 3.
After discovering the animals, police say, Roxanne Duff left a phone message for police saying she was unsure what to do with them.
Leechburg Police Officer Christopher Laird returned Roxanne Duff’s message, recommending that she contact either an animal shelter or a local dog kennel, according to a police report. He told her he would contact her if they find dogs’ owner. During that call, Roxanne Duff allegedly told Laird that the Rottweiler puppy had run away since her initial report.
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Later in the evening, Laird received a call from the dogs’ owner, Shawn Lerch, who said Duff had returned his golden retriever but not the Rottweiler. Lerch said he believed his dog was still in the area and suspected the Duffs were keeping him, despite what he had been told.
When Laird knocked on his neighbor's door, Scott Duff answered and allegedly denied having the puppy. The next day, Lerch called police again, saying he believed the dog was still at the Duffs' house, according to the report.
This time, police chief Michael Diebold went to the Duffs' home, where he found the couple's five-year-old son and his babysitter. According to the police report, the child said, “his mommy had given the dog to a woman from the Internet."
Diebold contacted Scott Duff again and told him what his child had said. Duff told him he had no knowledge of this and said he only knew that the puppy had escaped from his yard. A short time later, Duff called police back and allegedly admitted that his wife had placed an ad and sold the dog on Craigslist for $50.
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After police located the woman who bought the Rottweiler, who said she was unaware of the theft. Roxanne Duff went to Pittsburgh, where the woman lived, to retrieve the dog, and it was returned to Lerch.
Police charged the Duffs last week with not making a reasonable effort to return lost property, two counts of conspiracy and false reporting.
The couple is due in court for a preliminary hearing on October 31.
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Well I hope that 50 bucks in big profit is worth the arrest record, court costs, possible conviction and most of all.....living proof that these parents are not fit to raise an innocent child.
Novel Idea.
Wonder if it works for singing Tom Cats?
Did Obama buy it and eat it?? Enquiring minds want to know...
did the police have the right to question a minor child without the presence of his parents or an attorney there ? Can what the child told the cop be held as evidence ?
As a big fan of Animals, I am glad these two human sludge balls were caught. With the way this article is written it is hard to say how the puppies got out or away. Puppies are naturally curious and when small they often seem to want to make freinds with everyone and everything [including the grumpy neighborhood skunk in one case I recall from my youth]. Since these 'Neighbors' returned the one mixed breed puppy and sold the other pure breed, it makes me wonder if this couple or at least the lack-of-lady of the house didn't assist in their escape seeing dollar signs.
this is ridiculous. the dog owner couldn't keep their puppies in their yard so the neighbors are under arrest. Sure they probably shouldn't have sold the dog but if you can't keep YOUR dog in YOUR yard, you shouldn't have a dog in the first place. I am sick of dog owners that think that because 'dogs, especially puppies, are so cute' that the rest of us should have to politely let it slide when their beloved puppy gets out of their yard, poops on my lawn, tramples my garden and endangers my children. So, keep them on YOUR property and you won't have a problem. Hell, they could have shot the buggers and be in less trouble (not that I'm suggesting that-just pointing out the irony)
No, actually it would have been a much more serious offense to have done so.
That is exactly what you were suggesting. Besides, 'irony' does no apply when comparing breaking the law with...breaking the law.
Let me guess...not a big fan of either household pets or pet owners?
What lovely neighbors.The owners should have secured their pets better.
Oh, wow! I missed out! This must mean that I could have sold those four-wheelers that kept trespassing on my property! Well, dogdoneit!!! ........... Wow, reading some of the comments here just makes me want to gag. Some of you are really something else! If you don't own it (dog, four-wheeler, whatever), you don't have a right to sell it or give it away. Just because I was annoyed (or could use a couple of bucks) does not give me the right to do what I wish with something that clearly does not belong to me. If there is a problem, that would not be the appropriate solution. Geez! Hope none of you are my neighbors! OMG!
Margie
margeimpalla123 - you are a truly wretched woman with absolutely no knowledge of breeds and behaviors. Clearly you follow the medias hype on "bad breeds" like a lamb following a wolf. Educate yourself. I had a rottweiler who was absolutely awesome with children and now own 3 pit bulls who are equally as gentle. My neighbors 10 year old daughter comes and rolls around on the lawn with all 3 and they love her.
I did have someone leave my gate open one day, probably the mailman, and my dogs roamed. 2 of the 3 were hit by the same car which then broke off the collar of one of them so he was without tags. Fortunately they all are microchipped and when they were trucked off to puppy jail by the police, they called me when the dogs were scanned. Even the police stated that my pitties were very sweet:) Accidents happen. I've replaced my gates with automatic closing devices so it will no happen again. Working in an ER, I can honestly say I personally don't see any one breed that is more prone to biting than any other and the most aggressive and damaging dog bites in 1 incident were inflicted by the ever beloved Golden Retriever.
I agree the dog should not have been sold underhandedly, and they also should not have lied about it when asked. That is ridiculous.
That being said, while we don't know if the people intentionally let the dogs out of their yard or not, I am so tired of people who do. It's so common these days. Irresponsible people who think the entire neighborhood is their dog's toilet. Who think they don't have to watch their dog. Who, worse yet, think others want to make friends with their dog.
Let me speak on behalf of those who don't go mushy, mushy over dogs, since we never get a voice on these sorts of issues.
Why so many people assume that others will love their dog is just freakin' beyond me. I don't have to like your dog any more than I have to like your religion, or vice versa. I wouldn't wander around on your property, and I sure as **** don't want you or your dog on mine uninvited.
Grow up, irresponsible pet owners.
Good grief! Is it safe to assume you have had a recent influx of unwanted canine cuddles, puddles, etc.?
Judging by your...firm stance, I'm betting that not too many responsible or irresponsible pet owners would bring their animals (or friends and family members with emphasis on small children and veterinarians) anywhere near you or your property. So by all means: RELAX!
Animals are not property!
You want the f'ing dogs, but you also want to let the f'ing dogs run throughout the neighborhood. Stupid. Should have put the dogs down and dumped them somewhere far away.
I did not see anything about tags or whether they had them or not. They do not get tags until a certian age and there are other treatments given before that time. Mine was about 5 months for the rabies and distemper. Puppies get loose and wonder and it happens to the best of us every now and then. If a dog decides to go sometimes there is no stopping them. It is unclear what happened or why they were loose to begin with. The neighbor selling the dog was wrong period. They knew who the dogs belonged to and made false reports. The police are correct that the people made no reasonable effort to return the dog because the people knew who the dogs belonged to. It sounds more like the people (neighbors) stole the dogs or caused them to get loose. They were probably low on drug money and stole the dogs from the people who they knew owned them. Cut and dry the people who did this deserve to be in jail much less fines.