9-Week-Old Puppy Stolen From Bay Shore Store

BAY SHORE, NY - A 9-week-old puppy was stolen from a store at the Westfield South Shore Mall on Friday afternoon.

Suffolk Police confirmed a Maltese puppy (pictured above) was stolen by a couple from the American Dog Club on 1701 Sunrise Highway at 2:40 p.m.

The puppy, which weighs less than 2 pounds, is worth $2,500.

Store manager Annmarie Mancuso said that the couple picked a "good day" to steal the puppy since school was out due to Veterans Day and the store was packed. The store had the puppies out to allow the customers to pet them and give the dogs exercise.

"They knew what they were doing," she said.

While this is the first time a dog has been stolen from the Bay Shore store, she has heard of people stealing dogs, specifically Maltese puppies, and selling them on Craigslist.

Mancuse also says the couple probably knew what they were doing because they picked the Maltese, which is all white and does not have any identifying marks.

She has contacted the local stores and local veterinarians offices to warn them of the theft, but so far the puppy has not yet been found.

Her biggest concern was that the puppy has hyperglycemia, which is common in small dogs. Due to the condition, the puppy must eat about five times a day and cannot yet handle the colder temperatures.

She also said that she will not press charges if the puppy is returned.

"If whoever took the dog wants to return it, they can come to any of the three locations and drop it off no questions asked," she said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

Photo courtesy of Annmarie Mancuso