The dogs, a pit bull and Rottweiler, were at the animal shelter because they had been declared dangerous after attacking and killing neighboring alpacas on South Scheuber Road in Centralia, police said.
Deputies searched for the dogs since they were stolen but received a tip on Wednesday that neighbors heard dogs barking on the dog owner’s property.
Deputies arrived at the property at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday and saw the dogs hidden in a structure surrounded by sheet metal siding behind the house in a wooded area.
Deputies contacted the 41-year-old girlfriend of the property owner who admitted to having the dogs and said that they "showed up at midnight at my back door,” deputies said.
She denied any involvement in the burglary at the animal shelter.
She was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for investigation of possession of stolen property and rendering criminal assistance.
The property owner’s location is not known.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers, at 800-748-6422 if they wish to remain anonymous.
(KIRO - June 14, 2012)
