Christmas as a young puppy and a picture of her sister now.
Christmas the Golden Retriever Service Dog that we posted about here https://twolittlecavaliers.com/2011/07/service-dog-trainer-stole-puppy-saying-it-went-missing.html on Monday was turned over to police on Tuesday. Christmas a puppy in training for 4 Paws for Ability was supposed to go to his home in February to help a young boy with cerebral Palsy become more independent. Only weeks before he was to be given to the family his puppy trainer said he went missing from her home and no one could find him. The boy still needed a service dog and one was promised to his family so Christmas’ brother took her place to help the boy.
It appears though that Christmas never went missing or if she did that she was found and returned to the trainer’s home. Christmas was brought to her local vet for a routine exam last week where the veterinarian scanned for a microchip and found out the dog had been reported missing by 4Paws for Ability. While the veterinarian was calling authorities, puppy trainer Elizabeth Flaherty ran out of the practice and was on the run with the dog. She was found and arrested on Friday for felony theft charges, as well as receiving stolen property, and theft of services, but Christmas was no where to be found and Flaherty was not talking.
Tuesday a lawyer representing Flaherty brought Christmas into the police station to turn her into authorities. There is no word on where the dog was being kept. Karen Shirk Executive Director of 4 Paws for Ability believes it’s likely Christmas will still be able to be used as a service dog. “It looks promising,” she said. “She greeted everyone [at the police station.] She was happy and didn’t seem fearful.”
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11201/1161604-100.stm#ixzz1Sf9yioWz
I still hope there are charges brought against the trainer. People HAVE to accept the consequences for their stupid actions or they will continue this sort of behavior – even if the result is community service sone by the trainer – how about providing her training services for free at the local shelter to all newly adopted dogs plus clean-up work in the kennels.
Kim