'Dog-napped' puppy returned to Cedar Rapids pet shop

The puppy stolen from a Cedar Rapids pet shop earlier this month was returned to the store Saturday morning, "excited" but tired.

It's reported there are warrants out for the arrest of two people in connection with the Jan. 3 dog-napping.

Though the 10-week-old Miniature Pinscher is "a little tired" after the ordeal, employees of Pet's Playhouse, 151 Jacolyn Dr. NW, say he's perfectly fine.

"He's so excited, he won't sleep," said employee Rachel Houdek.

The puppy was stolen in the afternoon hours of Jan. 3. According to surveillance video, two people distracted employees as a third individual entered the store's "puppy room," slipped the small dog under a coat, and walked out the front door.

The Miniature Pinscher is valued at $500, and Pet's Playhouse got the puppy only a day before it was stolen. Employees were also concerned about the dog's health, as stress, cold, and improper care could kill the small breed animal.

According to Houdek, she got a voice message Friday from an unidentified man saying the puppy had been given to his wife at her place of work. He said they took the dog to the Humane Society of Scott County, 2802 West Central Park Ave. in Davenport.

Houdek said she then called the Humane Society and described the dog. She said she also had the Cedar Rapids Police Department contact the Humane Society to confirm the dog's identity.

This morning, employees drove to Davenport to pick up the tiny dog, who arrived back in Cedar Rapids at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The puppy had been at the Humane Society for about two weeks, Houdek said.

Though Cedar Rapids police declined to give any information about the warrants on Saturday, police previously said dog-napping in a case like this would be considered a misdemeanor.