BILLINGS — The employees of Vet-To-Go veterinary clinic in Billings are coming together after one of their colleagues had their car, phone, and three dogs stolen on Saturday morning. The perpetrator and the car have not been located yet, but two of the dogs were found around 3 am on Sunday, one deceased and one severely injured.
The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, was dropping off one of her four dogs to be groomed at Quirky K9 Grooming on 24th St W. She left her other three dogs in her car with the air conditioner running when someone suddenly stole her car with her belongings and dogs still inside. One dog was abandoned in its crate a few blocks away, but the other two, Posh and Tye, were still missing.
Vet-To-Go/Facebook
The police have been informed, and the suspect is described as a thin male with long black hair.
Several of the Vet-To-Go employees, including Lizzie Rupp, Laura Rareinhardt, Taylor Curtiss, Amy Lamm, Kendra Slotsue, and Nicole Dell, were shocked upon learning about what happened to their coworker.
“Heartbreaking,” said Rupp. “It’s something no pet owner wants to hear,” added Curtiss.
The women sprang into action, taking the issue to social media.
“Our immediate response was to find photos and make a Facebook post,” stated Rareinhardt.
The post quickly gained traction, being shared extensively on Facebook.
“Everyone was on alert. People were driving around, trying to locate the vehicle and reaching out to us offering assistance,” said Rareinhardt.
The French bulldogs were missing for hours until a tip led to the car being spotted in Pryor. Some of the woman’s belongings had been removed from the vehicle, such as a dog ramp and floor mat.
“Around 2 a.m., the owners went there themselves and found the two dogs on the side of the road,” Rareinhardt explained. “They called out for them, and one of the dogs moved from the side to the middle of the road. That’s how they found him, together with Posh, who was found deceased on the side of the road.”
Posh was discovered in her crate, possibly succumbing to injuries from being ejected from the vehicle. Tye was alive but had multiple wounds and was ill, likely from ingesting rat poison. He received treatment at Moore Lane Veterinary Hospital and was discharged later that day.
“He’s back home now getting all the love he deserves,” Rareinhardt shared.
The emotions of confusion and anger prevail among many in response to the events.
“It’s a mix of emotions: anger, heartbreak, shock,” said Dell. “We can all imagine if it had been our own. In a way, it is ours. We’re like a family here,” added Lamm.
Currently, they are thankful that Tye is recuperating and for the overwhelming support from the community.
“We want to express our gratitude for the shares, donations, and prayers. Every bit of help matters in this situation, and we appreciate all of it,” stated Dell.
“Numerous people who don’t even know the woman dropped everything, and vet clinics in town shared our post,” Rareinhardt mentioned. “The incredible amount of support from everyone has been humbling and fantastic.”
The clinic has initiated a GoFundMe page for the victim. To contribute, click here.
