ARLINGTON — It was bad enough that the thief shattered the passenger window of the Jeep and stole bags containing her purse and her boyfriend’s wallet, forcing them to cancel debit and credit cards and apply for new driver licenses.
What most rankled Kristin Hooker was the crook had the audacity to steal her service dog’s identification and the small backpack it uses to carry its master’s inhaler, medicines and important contact information.
“People have to be really low to do something like that,” the Camano Island woman said. “They took everything but my cane.”
Hooker, 47, said she lives with several challenging conditions, including asthma, a degenerative spinal defect and a brain disorder that affects her memory and causes her to lose track of time.
She relies on Pippin, her 7-pound black Pomeranian service dog who shadows her around the clock.
Pippin was with her along the bank of the Stillaguamish River near Arlington on July 23, the day the Jeep was prowled. She and her boyfriend were there to celebrate her daughter’s birthday. They planned a barbecue, swimming and playing with grandchildren, according to a statement she filed with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
Before walking to the river, the couple debated what to do with their wallet and purse as well as Pippin’s backpack. They worried the items could be stolen if they left them on shore when they went into the water. They also didn’t want to risk getting wet Pippin’s backpack and its contents. They decided to conceal bags containing their wallet and purse under a jacket in the Jeep.
Their gamble backfired.
The Jeep, parked off of Highway 530 and Dike Road, was broken into some time between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
As bad as it was losing her purse, Hooker worried more about Pippin’s backpack, which is built like a small saddle-bag and has the words “Outward Hound” on both sides. A plastic service dog ID tag with Pippin’s name and photo along with her owner’s name was attached to the bag.
Hooker hopes someone will identify the missing backpack and return it through the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
The couple also plans to talk with deputies about offering a $100 reward for its return. Anyone with information can call the sheriff’s office tip line at 425-388-3845.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
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