- Florida, USA -
47-year-old VAHID ANTHONY MCLAUGHLIN (pictured below), is accused of stealing a puppy from a Petland store at 356 N. University Dr., in the Pembroke Commons shopping center in Pembroke Pines.
The incident happened on Monday, August 24.
Ms. Stephani Victor, Petland Manager, told Local 10 News that MCLAUGHLIN was at the store on Monday and asked to see a Pompoo, a cross between a Pomeranian and a Toy Poodle.
MCLAUGHLIN then saw an 8-week-old puppy named Toby, valued $6,000.
According to Local 10 News, the store manager said that MCLAUGHLIN “began acting erratically with Toby before pushing an employee and walking out of the store with the dog.”
Sun Sentinel reports that according to Ms. Victor, MCLAUGHLIN filled out some documents as he appeared to be going through the process of buying the puppy.
When he left the store, he left behind some ID’s with his home address on it and that’s how
Pembroke Pines police were able to track him down.
MCLAUGHLIN was arrested on Tuesday, August 25, and returned Toby to the police.
Reportedly, Toby was in a cardboard box covered in his own urine; he was cold and shaken up.
Police took Toby back to the store and was immediately examined by a vet.
Ms. Victor said that Toby did not look good adding that: “He was unresponsive, he wasn’t moving, he looked very skinny, he looked hypoglycemic, his gums were white.”
Sadly, Toby passed away on Wednesday, August 26.
Miami CBS Local reports that office manager Terri Fleming said Toby was dehydrated and disoriented.
She said: “He had lost a pound in 24 hours. He was happy and eating before he was taken.”
She also said that Toby spiked a fever and died.
Ms. Victor believes that MCLAUGHLIN failed to properly care for Toby and the store wants to press charges.
A necropsy will be performed to determine Toby’s cause of death.
When MCLAUGHLIN made his first court appearance on Wednesday morning, Toby was still alive.
The defendant was only charged with grand theft.
As a result of Toby’s death, it is possible that additional charges may be filed.
When he was in court, according to Sun Sentinel, he complained about the presence of the media in the courtroom and told judge Corey Amanda Cawthon: “The TV has coverage of what happened, and I’m sure they are going to play the video.”
To which judge Cawthon responded: “Mr. McLaughlin, this is a courtroom, and I understand the media is present, but we are not here to promote any news coverage of this case. So I’m going to stop you right there.”
Meanwhile, MCLAUGHLIN is already out of jail and in an exclusive interview with NBC 6, he spoke out giving his version of the story.
He said: “They’re trying to pass this dog on to me for $6,000. A Pomeranian is not worth, in my opinion, more than $2,000, $2,500, or $3,000.”
He also said the main reason for stealing Toby was because he thought he was sick.
“He looked fatigued, he looked sick, he had redness around his eyes, he had swelling”, he said.
MCLAUGHLIN said he didn't call the police or animal control because he believed they wouldn't have responded in the time necessary.
“I’ve been raising and training dogs for over 40 years, and I’ve always had a dog with me”, added MCLAUGHLIN. “My last dog, a Lab, died a few months ago.”
He is now planning to fight his felony charges.
It’s unclear whether MCLAUGHLIN took Toby to a vet to be examined after he stole him.