3 People Arrested After Teen’s Puppy Snatched While out for a Walk

People walk their dogs on the boardwalk in Toronto's east end on April 4, 2021. The Canadian Press/Chris Young

Three people have been charged after a puppy was stolen from a teenager while they were out for a walk, in what police say was an armed robbery.

Windsor police said they were called to investigate the incident, which happened on March 16 in the area of College Avenue and South Street.

A teenager was out for a walk with her four-month-old puppy, a French Bulldog named Rustin, according to police. She was reportedly approached by two men and a teen girl. The three individuals allegedly threatened her with bear spray. Police said the trio then grabbed the dog from the teen and ran off.

The dog was eventually found and returned home, police said.

Windsor police said a 15-year-old girl was arrested in March in connection with the case. Her name cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, but she has been charged with robbery and assault with a weapon.

A second suspect in the case was arrested on April 18 at the Windsor International Airport. Ethan Vachon, 21, was arrested after he arrived at the airport to take a scheduled flight, police said. He has been charged with assault with a weapon and robbery with violence or threats of violence.

Drake Miller, 18, was arrested on April 22 by the Ontario Provincial Police Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement squad in the area of 3800 Vaughan Street. He has been charged with charged with assault with a weapon and robbery with violence.

Windsor police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 519-255-6700, ext. 4830, or Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 (TIPS).

In a similar incident, a North Vancouver man was charged by the RCMP after he allegedly walked away with a six-year-old golden retriever that was outside a business on Lonsdale Avenue.

RCMP said it happened on Feb. 12, 2024, around 1:30 p.m., with the owner saying she had briefly gone inside a store.

The man in his 40s was found and arrested, and is facing charges of theft under $5,000.

B.C. RCMP said they are searching for a suspect in another dog theft incident where a one-year-old Chihuahua mixed with other breeds was taken.

Police said the incident happened on Aug. 31, 2024, when the dog, Lulu, and her owner were walking in Kelowna. A grey vehicle pulled up alongside them and a middle age man got out of the vehicle and started talking to the owner. The man then unhooked the dog’s leash, took her into the van and fled, RCMP said.