Alleged pet thief sniffed out by police
22 Dec 2009
Think twice before letting your pets roam around the neighborhood on their own. There is a slim possibility that your pet can be one of those dognapped cases.
Kimberly Wray said she had just let her 3-month-old English bulldog named Clay outside her residence to go to bathroom Saturday.
Minutes later he was gone.
“I started to panic,” she said. “He doesn’t run off, because he’s scared of cars.”
Not only was her dog missing, but two kittens named Obi and Jax had vanished as well. All that was left were the animals’ collars.
After posted a missing pet notice on the Internet, someone contacted her Wednesday saying they had picked up her dog off the side of U.S. Highway 31. The dog appeared headed toward Pulaski.
Wray said she’s glad to have Clay back, but she’s still worried about her two cats.
“It really has put a damper on our Christmas,” she said. “We are relieved to finally have Clay back, but we are still very concerned about the kittens.”
Maury County Sheriff’s Detective Terry Chandler said authorities have charged 47-year-old Laurie Montgomery with theft of more than $1,000 for allegedly stealing the pets.
According to an arrest warrant, Montgomery was seen carrying an English bulldog to the Maury County Animal Shelter, though officials refused to take in the canine.
Montgomery’s home at 3893 Bigbyville Road is about 1 1/2 miles away from Wray’s residence.
Wray has been reunited with her English bulldog while Montgomery is charged with allegedly stealing the pet.
Montgomery was released from custody after posting $2,500 bond.
Several attempts to contact Montgomery were unsuccessful.
Chandler said Montgomery runs a rabbit rescue farm in Columbia. The nonprofit organization “rescues injured and abandoned domestic rabbits, while educating the public on rabbit care and behavior,” according to the Bunny Rescue’s Web site.
Before the dog was found, the detective speculated Montgomery tried giving the dog to a friend.
Chandler said if an animal is seen running loose, the best thing to do is call animal control.
“People will go around thinking they’re doing the right thing, but it turns out they’re just picking up somebody’s pet,” he said.
As for Wray, she said she will keep a close eye on her animals.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Maury County Sheriff’s Department at (931) 388-5151.
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