- Vet in Bradenton, Florida, left freezer containing dog remains outside overnight
- Cremation company was due to pick up the container the following morning
- CCTV captured moment pickup truck arrived and drove off with the box
- Vets believe thief did not know what was inside and want the remains returned
The remains of two dogs waiting to be cremated have been stolen from outside a veterinary clinic in Florida.
Staff at Bradenton Veterinary Hospital are appealing for thieves to return the bodies of Duchess the Husky and a second dog after they were taken last week.
Kathy Richardson, supervisor at the hospital, said the remains of both animals were left outside the clinic overnight in a freezer for a cremation company to pick up the following morning.
The remains of two dogs waiting to be cremated, including thee body of 13-year-old Husky Duchess (pictured), were stolen from outside a Florida veterinary clinic
Staff say the remains of Duchess and a second dog were sitting in an unlocked freezer in bags clearly marked ‘animal remains’ when somebody drove off with them
But on the night of December 7 CCTV footage captured a dark-color pickup truck, possibly a Nissan Frontier, pulling into the parking lot, ABC reports.
Several moments later the truck emerges with the freezer in the bed.
Richardson believes the thief simply saw the metal box and took it assuming there was something valuable inside.
The lid was not locked and the two bags inside were clearly marked ‘animal remains.’
Vets had hoped the body bags would be dumped somewhere nearby once the thief realized their mistake, but so far nothing has turned up.
Police are trying to track the owner of this dark-color pickup truck which was seen driving away with the freezer in the back bed
‘Who would want pets’ remains,’ Richardson added.
Duchess was a 13-year-old husky who had been owned by Sarasota resident Heather Khan since she was a puppy.
Richardson said she called Khan when she discovered the remains were missing, saying the owner could not believe what had happened and simply wants the ashes as a memento of her pet.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Bradenton Police Department at (941) 932-9300