Juli Olson has a message for the person who stole a 6-month-old dilute calico foster kitten named Pencil Case from PetSmart in Eden Prairie on Sunday afternoon.
“We would just like to get our kitten back,” said Olson, adoption manager for Ruff Start Rescue, the non-profit organization that rescued Pencil Case. “Is it about the adoption fee — NO. We are always willing to work with a loving family that can’t pay an adoption fee. It is not OK to steal a kitten. Please return her so she can be reunited with her sister and her foster family. No questions asked. Just please do the right thing and return our kitten.”
Named by its foster family “Pencil” because she was orange like a pencil, the kitten had been in a locked kennel in the store’s pet adoption center when she was taken at about 3 p.m.
A police spokeswoman said it is believed the suspect unscrewed the kennel door to steal the kitten. As of Tuesday, Pencil Case has yet to be found or a suspect arrested.
Olson said that video surveillance from the store shows the suspect — a man — entering and exiting the store.
“He grabbed Pencil Case and walked right out with her,” Olson said.
In the wake of the theft, Olson said the foster mom is “understandably beside herself as are all of our fosters.”
Olson said Pencil Case was in the kennel with another kitten named Teacher’s Pet. The two are bonded sisters, drawing comfort from each other.
Teacher’s Pet was reunited with her foster family on Monday.
“The foster said she went right up to her daughter and curled up in her lap,” she said. “And she slept on the foster’s shoulder last night. She would usually be curled up with her sister Pencil. They are very attached to each other.”
Ruff Stuff is a foster-based animal rescue that primarily serves communities throughout Minnesota. Located in Princeton, Minn., it rescues dogs and cats as well as ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, and other critters.
It has animals up for adoption in three different PetSmart adoption centers. It also partners with one Chuck and Don’s location.
This is the second time a Ruff Stuff Rescue foster kitten was stolen from a PetSmart this year. It also happened on June 27 at the St. Louis Park location. That kitten, Hawkins, has never been found. Olson said they do not believe the two incidents are related.
Olson said Ruff Start Rescue has been getting the word out on social media about Pencil Case.
If you have any information, contact Ruff Start at (763) 355-3981 or info@ruffstartrescue.org.
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