Caught On Camera: Local Pet Stores Vandalized
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Surveillance video could be the key to solving a bizarre night of vandalism that targeted three Miami-Dade pet stores.
According to the store owners at Puppies to Go, at around 6:25 a.m. the entrance to their 8th Street and 73rd Court location was spray painted. The work van also had its tires slashed and windows smashed.
In the video a man with a shirt over his face is seen spray painting on the sidewalk and metal rollers. The word he's writing is "sick."
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What really is bizarre though is at least two other shops were hit early Saturday morning.
One was Puppies of Kendall, whose windows were smashed.
The other was Paws and Bones on Bird Road.
"When I come in, all glass inside the cages," said Gasualdo Rangel of Paws and Bones.
In each case the vandals didn't steal anything, and none of the dogs were hurt.
"It's weird that it's just pet stores – and three of them. I don't know if it's someone that does not agree with us, that we sell puppies," said Delia Nessy of Puppies of Kendall
The owners think whoever did this thinks the stores are associated with puppy mills.
"We get all these dogs from private breeders. They have this whole process to make sure the puppies are taken care of – health certificates, veterinarians up to date. We get them checked up weekly, vitamins everyday as well. So that's what the people from the streets don't understand. These puppies are under more care, more observation than animal services," said Puppies to Go owner Natalie Alvarez.
Two days ago one of these store owners confronted men selling puppies on the side of the road. CBS4 has chosen not show the video since neither is a suspect right now. But the puppy store owner told them it was illegal and he would report them if he saw them again.
Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.
