Puppies stolen after breeder's death

Photo: Kearston Burton-Weatherhead

Eight Alapaha blue-blood bulldog puppies were taken from a Kamloops breeder's home after she suddenly died, her sister says.

Photo: Kearston Burton-Weatherhead

Eight Alapaha blue-blood bulldog puppies were taken from a Kamloops breeder's home after she suddenly died, her sister says.

Photo: Kearston Burton-Weatherhead

Eight Alapaha blue-blood bulldog puppies were taken from a Kamloops breeder's home after she suddenly died, her sister says.

Photo: Kearston Burton-Weatherhead

Dainya Watson, a Kamloops breeder, pictured with two dogs.

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A woman is urging the public to be on the lookout for eight rare-breed puppies she says were stolen from her sister’s Kamloops home hours after she died suddenly last week.

Kearston Burton-Weatherhead said she recently made the three and a half hour drive from her Chilliwack home to Kamloops to look for the puppies. She is offering a cash reward for their safe return.

“We honestly just want these puppies back. We want to be able to lay my sister to rest without the constant worry of where her puppies are,” Burton-Weatherhead said.

“This was already a horrible, horrible thing that we're going through. And then on top of this, we just feel absolutely gutted.”

Burton-Weatherhead said her sister, Dainya Watson, died suddenly at 33 in her Kamloops home on Tuesday.

According to Burton-Weatherhead, Watson had been a dog breeder for about seven or eight years, well-known in the dog community for breeding Alapaha blue-blood bulldogs. Watson had been caring for the latest litter of eight puppies when she died.

Burton-Weatherhead said Kamloops police attended Watson’s house — which she shared with two roommates — after she died, and left at about 5 a.m.

“What we were told was between 5 and 6 a.m., the roommates went inside. And within a few minutes of them being in the home, they heard a commotion outside and went and checked,” Burton-Weatherhead said.

“There was a van speeding away from their home, and all the puppies had been taken from outside in the front yard.”

The van is described as a black or dark grey 2000 Honda Odyssey.

Burton-Weatherhead said two of the Alapaha blue-blood bulldog puppies had been purchased — paid for in full — and were due to be picked up this past weekend.

"I've been working very closely with their owners to try to find [the puppies],” Burton-Weatherhead said.

Dani Parlee, a Prince George woman, said she purchased one of the puppies. Parlee was a repeat customer, having previously bought another dog from Watson.

She said she has been working with Burton-Weatherhead, sharing their story on social media and “pushing" for Kamloops RCMP to further the investigation and find the dogs.

“We don't know who's got them, if they are taking care of them. Are they stuffed in a crate somewhere? Are they feeding them? Are they giving them water? It’s devastating for everyone,” Parlee said.

“Hopefully somebody comes forward with them — that’s all we can hope and pray for.”

Colby Gartner, whose family purchased a puppy, said he appreciates the the public’s help and any information or leads they can get.

“You've invested money into all the accessories, and now we just have all these dog toys and stuff laying about our house here just reminding us of the dog that's out there,” he said.

Burton-Weatherhead said she has reported the theft to Kamloops RCMP. In the days following the theft, she said she has provided RCMP with some information provided by some individuals who have come forward, but hasn’t heard anything back from police.

Castanet Kamloops reached out to Mounties for comment but has not received a response.

Burton-Weatherhead said anyone with information about the puppies can contact police and reference file number 22-22226, and can reach out to her by searching her name on Facebook.

“We just want them to be returned,” she said.