A Chilliwack woman is pleading for the return of eight missing puppies.
Kearston Burton-Weatherhead says the rare-breed Alapaha dogs are the last connection to her beloved sister Dainya, who died suddenly June 28. Within an hour or two of Dainya乌鸦传媒檚 death, the litter of puppies was taken from the home she shared with two roommates.
Dainya was a dog breeder who loved what she did, and as her family copes with unimaginable grief, Kearston doesn乌鸦传媒檛 feel she can lay her sister to rest until the dogs are found.
乌鸦传媒淗er puppies were absolutely everything to her,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淭his is the last thing that we have of my sister乌鸦传媒檚 that she put her heart and soul into.乌鸦传媒�
Kearston drove three-and-a-half hours to Kamloops last week, with lots of time to think about the theft and how it乌鸦传媒檚 preventing her from processing her sister乌鸦传媒檚 death.
She said she乌鸦传媒檚 feeling angry because she can乌鸦传媒檛 grieve.
乌鸦传媒淲e haven乌鸦传媒檛 been able to sit down as a family because we乌鸦传媒檝e had so much to deal with trying to find these puppies,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淢y poor parents are consumed with finding these dogs and laying their daughter to rest peacefully. I乌鸦传媒檓 the type of person who makes sure everybody is OK first and I deal with myself later. I haven乌鸦传媒檛 had a chance to fully wrap my head around the fact that I乌鸦传媒檒l never see my sister again.乌鸦传媒�
A black or dark grey 2000 Honda Odyssey minivan was seen speeding away from Dainya乌鸦传媒檚 home around 6 a.m. on the morning she died (June 28), and that remains the best lead Kearston has.
She reported the theft to Kamloops RCMP, but she said the police have been 乌鸦传媒渆xtremely uncooperative.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e given them all the information I乌鸦传媒檝e received. I emailed and called for days and nobody got back to me until last night (July 4),乌鸦传媒� Kearston said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd pretty much what they told me is I乌鸦传媒檓 out of luck.乌鸦传媒�
Kearston is trying to remain optimistic, but more and more she乌鸦传媒檚 feeling despair. She admits to feeling like she乌鸦传媒檚 searching for eight needles in a giant haystack, but giving up is not an option.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e scoured Kamloops,乌鸦传媒� she said, adding that she乌鸦传媒檚 up at 6 a.m. every day to continue the search. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e sat out front of my sister乌鸦传媒檚 home. I乌鸦传媒檝e driven around showing pictures to people at gas stations. I乌鸦传媒檝e gone to vet clinics and given out my phone number to as many people as I can, just in hopes that anything comes back that helps me find them.
乌鸦传媒淚 feel like I乌鸦传媒檝e got the world on my shoulders right now and I can乌鸦传媒檛 disappoint anybody because so many people are invested in helping us. I left my kids and husband and my animals to come up here and find these dogs, and I乌鸦传媒檓 not willing to stop until they乌鸦传媒檙e found.乌鸦传媒�
It乌鸦传媒檚 going to be difficult for the puppy thief(s) to move the dogs without being noticed. Kearston is keeping a close eye on Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook and other online platforms.
乌鸦传媒淭his is such a rare breed that it乌鸦传媒檚 not going to go unnoticed if you advertise that you have them,乌鸦传媒� she said.
A cash reward is being offered for the safe return of the puppies, and while Kearston would love to have accountability for whoever took them, she乌鸦传媒檒l accept just getting them back, no questions asked.
乌鸦传媒淒rop them off at the SPCA, the police department, the fire department, anywhere,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淧lease just give them back. It乌鸦传媒檚 not about what they乌鸦传媒檙e worth. It乌鸦传媒檚 about having my sister乌鸦传媒檚 babies home.乌鸦传媒�
Anyone with tips can phone Kearston at 604-378-2303 or find her on Facebook by searching Kearston Burton-Weatherhead.
eric.welsh@hopestandard.com
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