Joliet Pet Rescue Pleading for Return of Stolen Puppy

The 8-week-old female Shih tzu mix puppy needs medication, Hopeful Tails staff said. Photo credit: Submitted by Hopeful Tails.

A Joliet animal rescue is asking for the safe return of a puppy that was stolen from a restricted area for quarantined animals on Monday.

Hopeful Tails board member Chris Ulreich said the 8-week-old female puppy is suffering from a respiratory infection and needs medication.

“Unfortunately, without medicine, especially in this young of a puppy, this can turn worse fast,” she said.

The tiny black, brown and white Shih tzu mix puppy weighs about four pounds, Ulreich said.

The puppy was stolen from a restricted area just after noon on Monday. Ulreich said the Hopeful Tails facility, located in Unit E at 251 Republic Ave., has two areas: a warehouse area with kennels and a bathing area for pets, and an office side with a lobby, office space and a restricted area for quarantined pets.

Ulreich said pets that are new to Hopeful Tails are kept in the quarantined area for about two weeks so they can be monitored and treated for any illnesses.

A volunteer was leaving the office side of the facility at around 12:15 p.m. Monday when she saw two men entering the building. The volunteer said hello, believing the men were fellow volunteers, Ulreich said.

But five to 10 minutes later, a witness in the parking lot spotted the men exit the building with the small puppy and get into a vehicle with two other men, Ulreich said. Hopeful Tails staff believe the men must be familiar with the facility to have been able to get in and out of the quarantined area so quickly.

The two suspects who grabbed the puppy are described as black men in their late teens or early 20s, according to Ulreich, who said Joliet police are gathering surveillance footage from the facility.

Ulreich said Hopeful Tail staff just want the puppy returned so she can be treated for her illness.

On Monday night, Hopeful Tails posted a message on Facebook, pleading for the puppy’s return and saying if the dog was back by 8 p.m., no charges would be pressed. As of Tuesday morning, the tiny pooch was still missing.

“I don’t know how interested we are in pursuing charges,” Ulreich said. “We really just want the puppy back safely.”

She said Hopeful Tails volunteers are worried about the puppy’s health.

“If they stole a puppy, will they take it to the vet?,” she said asked. “We’re very, very concerned for her health.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Hopeful Tails announced that thanks to the donations of Starfish Animal Rescue and Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter, a $100 reward is being offered for the safe return of the stolen puppy. An additional $100 reward will be given upon conviction to anyone who comes forward with information and helps with efforts to prosecute the offenders.

Anyone with information on the stolen puppy is asked to call the Joliet police non-emergency number at 815-724-3100 or Hopeful Tails at 815-823-2174.

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