A four-month-old Greyhound puppy has been found dead on a major road after being snatched by dog thieves. Sam Lindley and Lara Pitavino were left distraught after their Greyhound Sally vanished from their home in Chiswick on Sunday, May 24.
Social Media Appeal Ends in Tragedy
Mr Lindley, a first officer on Disney Cruise Ships, quickly launched a social media appeal to track down their beloved pet. However, just 12 hours later, they received the devastating news that Sally had been found dead near the Porsche Garage on the A4, close to Chiswick Village, on Monday.
Witnesses told the couple they had seen the puppy, who had a rare heart condition, being thrown from a vehicle. Kind-hearted bystanders rushed Sally to the vets, but she suffered severe head injuries and did not survive.
Owner's Heartbreak
Lara Pitavino, 30, described Sally as their 'baby' that 'went everywhere with us'. She said: 'She went missing at 10pm and was found about 10am the following morning. It's hard to believe there are people out there who would do this. We just want to know what happened and get closure.'
Police Investigation Underway
The couple reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police, who have launched a probe. Lara added: 'The report from the vet is that a group of people saw her being thrown out of a car window near the Porsche garage in Chiswick and brought her to them.'
She and Sam have appealed for two kind teenagers who witnessed the incident to come forward. 'We really want to thank them for what they did, absolute angels,' she said. 'And ask them any other detail they could provide to help us find out why Sally was in that car without a collar.'
Police Statement
A Met Police spokesperson said: 'On Monday, 25 May a report was made to police that a dog had been stolen from an address in Chiswick and sadly found dead on the A4 westbound at the junction with Harvard Road. The incident happened around 9:15pm on Sunday, 24 May. Officers have conducted initial enquiries including speaking to witnesses and reviewing local CCTV. Enquiries continue to establish the circumstances.'
Anyone with information is asked to contact the force by calling 101 and quoting CAD4244/25MAY.
