MARYSVILLE — Police have collared a suspected dognapper, but the strange story of Takoda, the stolen Siberian Husky, isn’t over yet.
Takoda was stolen from her Marysville yard Sept. 24 in a theft that was caught on camera. After publicity about the theft, and pleas from her family for her safe return, dog was reunited with her owners.
Police arrested a woman in October, but a few weeks later she was cleared of all charges.
Video of the dognapping went viral, catching the attention of animal lovers around the world.
Yet few new details were revealed for weeks.
Late Wednesday night, Marysville police announced they’d made another arrest.
Tips received from the public led police to contact a Bothell woman, 51, Cmdr. Robb Lamoureux said.
The woman turned herself in Oct. 27. She declined to make an official statement to investigators, Lamoureux said.
The woman was cited with second-degree trespassing, third-degree theft and second-degree animal cruelty, Lamoureux said. She has since been released and is awaiting prosecution.
Takoda’s owners, Ron and Colleen Smith, are worried the punishment won’t be enough to atone for their pain.
The 8-year-old dog is doing better every day but isn’t fully recovered, Ron Smith said Thursday. For a while she was afraid of strangers.
“She’s happy again,” he said. “She’s not shaking anymore.”
Still, Takoda doesn’t like to stray far from her doghouse. She used to lie in the yard and watch cars go by. She doesn’t now.
The family plans to attend all of the woman’s court hearings. They said they’re angry. They spent days searching for their dog when she was missing. The vet bills alone were hundreds of dollars, Smith said.
It’s hard for him and his wife to both leave the house at the same time, thinking the dog is at risk of being stolen again.
“We don’t want to leave her outside,” he said. “We’re afraid.”
Early in the investigation, it appeared that whoever took Takoda might be connected to an animal rescue group. That no longer appears to be the case.
The woman did, however, arrive at the police station in what appears to be the same vehicle spotted in the video, Lamoureux said.
The woman didn’t disclose an alleged motive, but investigators believe she thought Takoda was being mistreated.
Police have not turned up any evidence or indication of abuse, Lamoureux said.
The woman who was arrested isn’t telling investigators who was driving the vehicle, police said. Anyone who might have information is asked to call 360-363-8300.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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