The 12-year-old Labrador-Golden Retriever mix, Flash, appeared to have died from a heat-related stroke, Alaska State Troopers wrote in a dispatch posted online today. Troopers say Gina Jones, 36, of Palmer, and Jason McDonnell, 35, of Wasilla, have been arrested in the case.
The pair faces charges of auto theft, theft, and cruelty.
Stolen on July 10 from Fireweed Road, the van was found three days later, on Wednesday, near Hideaway Circle. Troopers identified Jones and McDonnell, who have previously been convicted of felonies, as suspects. Both were being held on $30,000 cash-only bail, troopers wrote.
ORIGINAL STORY:
An Anchorage man working in Wasilla had his van stolen with his dog inside on Sunday. The 1999 Dodge van turned up on Wednesday but the dog was found dead inside, according to troopers.
The van was found abandoned in a lot on Hideway Circle off Hyer Road.
Owner Mark Thompson was too distraught to talk in detail about what happened but said he feared once his van was stolen the outcome for his dog, Flash, would not be good. Thompson worried that unless the thief released the dog or at least opened the windows the canine would suffocate.
“It’s been so hot out these last few days,” Thompson said.
One of Thompson’s co-workers said the men are working on a paving job between miles 35 and 40 of the Glenn Highway. The van was parked in a staging area and Thompson had left his keys inside in case someone needed to move the vehicle, said Todd Johnson.
Thompson left the windows down and the 12-year-old Labrador-Golden Retriever mix inside, said Johnson.
“It looks like the dog died of heat exhaustion,” said Johnson.
Scores of people on social media have expressed concern about Flash and hope that whomever stole the van will be caught and punished.
A $1,000 reward fund for information leading to an arrest has been set up, Johnson said.
Others have turned to social media as well to help find their missing dogs.
Big Lake resident Krista Fee is trying to track down who stole her American bull dog-boxer mix named Ruger from her property on Monday.
“It seems he was targeted,” Fee said.
Neighbors said they witnessed a man reaching into Fee’s yard and take Ruger. They provided a description of the man and his vehicle, described as a white Ford F-150 pickup, according to Fee.
“I’m persistent. I’m going to find my dog,” said Fee.
Ryan Montgomery of Anchorage is also reaching out on social media to try to find his American pit bull terrier, named Achilles, whom he thinks was snatched in Houston. Montgomery took the dog to Houston in late May to be cared for by his brother-in-law while he and his wife flew to the Lower 48 for medical treatment.
The dog went missing the next day.
“We’re guessing someone picked him up. He’s never run off before,” Montgomery said.
Montgomery said he and his wife drive out to Houston every weekend to search for Achilles and they monitor social media sites dedicated to lost and stolen pets.
“It consumes all my time.”
Anyone with information about Achilles is asked to phone Montgomery at 907-727-3490. There's a $1,000 reward fund to tips leading to Achilles' safe return.
Montgomery and Fee said they have heard that dogs are being stolen in the Mat-Su for use in dog fighting rings.
Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said troopers are not aware of any dog fighting ring in the area.
(KTUU - July 19, 2016)
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