Thieves Help Puppy Find New Home

Two teenagers accused of breaking into the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center are in a bit of hot water, but the puppy they swiped is getting a happy ending to its tale.

The unusual story began to unfold on Tuesday when two Brandon area teenagers are accused of going to the 440 N. Falkenburg Road shelter. Once there, the boys took a shepherd mix puppy out of its cage, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office explained. With the pooch in tow, the boys, ages 15 and 17, walked out without being detected.

It didn’t take Pet Resources staff long, however, to notice mischief was afoot so they reviewed surveillance video. Sure enough, the footage showed the kids in the act of taking the pup, the sheriff’s office wrote in an email.

Deputies were able to quickly identify the teens involved and find the missing mutt. Both boys, who Patch is not identifying because of their ages, have since been charged with burglary of an occupied structure and petty theft. And, while the teens will have to pay the price for their actions, that puppy won’t be staying in its cage much longer.

It seems the little pup managed to steal a deputy’s heart. Deputy Jennifer Bordorano, 26, “is intending on adopting the puppy and giving it a forever home,” Debbie Carter, sheriff’s office spokeswoman, said. Bordarano is a two-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.

The deputy’s name is not yet available. It isn’t clear just yet how soon the puppy will get to move into its new digs.

Photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office