LONGMONT, Colo. (KDVR) — Authorities in Longmont are on the lookout for a man who stole a cat from a Petco store, leaving a local animal rescue organization deeply concerned for the cat’s health and well-being.
Soul Dog Rescue, a nonprofit based in Fort Lupton, has been dedicated to rescuing animals from euthanasia and abuse, particularly from tribal lands in the Four Corners region. The walls of their facility are lined with photos, each telling a story of an animal saved from dire circumstances.
“There’s a lot of neglect, so we definitely work hard on that to get these guys better homes and to give them the life they deserve,” said Tawny Irmer, the medical lead at Soul Dog Rescue.
Among the animals recently rescued was a family of gray tabby cats from Monument Valley. One of these cats, a 7-month-old named Mandarino, was up for adoption at the Petco in Longmont. Although microchipped and vaccinated, Mandarino was suffering from respiratory issues, prompting Petco to contact Soul Dog Rescue to retrieve him for medical care. However, before the rescue could pick him up, they received a distressing follow-up call from the store.
“They reached out again and said, ‘Oh my gosh, this guy just took him,’” Irmer recounted. “Apparently, the man had asked about the cat, and when informed it was the only kitten available, he took advantage of the situation, despite being told the cat needed to return to the shelter for treatment.”
Witnesses reported that the man broke into the cat’s enclosure and fled the store with Mandarino. He was seen leaving in a white Ford truck. Petco has since provided surveillance footage and images to the Longmont Police Department, who are now investigating the incident and have identified the man seen in the video as a person of interest.
“Our primary concern is that Mandarino wasn’t feeling well. We just want to ensure he gets the medical attention he needs,” Irmer emphasized.
The search for the suspect continues as authorities work to bring Mandarino back to safety.
Related Topics
