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An Old Town woman has been charged with theft after misleading police about the whereabouts of a puppy belonging to her roommate.
According to a report filed by Officer Debbie Holmes of the Old Town Police Department, University of Maine student, Madelyn “Mandy” Westbrook brought Jenny, a chocolate lab puppy to the Old Town Animal Orphanage on Sept. 14, claiming the dog had been left in a box on her doorstep along with a note of relinquishment. It was Westbrook’s apparent intention to turn the puppy over to the animal orphanage as a stray according to Amanda Oliver, an employee of the Old Town Animal Orphanage. While in the parking lot of the orphanage, Westbrook was seen talking to a couple, Kelly and Alan Jackson of Alton, who she later turned the puppy over to.
Dog owner and UMaine student Brad Gonya was told by Westbrook upon returning home later in the day, that his dog had slipped off her leash and escaped off the property. A search ensued of the neighborhood by Gonya and his girlfriend, Kim Ledoux, also a UMaine student. They concluded the search without finding the dog and returned to the residence at 49 Brunswick St. According the report, Gonya confronted Westbrook about the whereabouts of his dog and an argument ensued resulting in a call to the Old Town Police.
Holmes arrived on the scene and conducted separate interviews with Gonya and Westbrook, noting in her report Westbrook’s demand to be involved in the conversation among Holmes, Gonya and Ledoux. According to Holmes’ report, Westbrook admitted to taking the dog to the shelter that day and claimed the puppy was mistreated by her owner. Westbrook explained she was a student studying veterinary science and believed the dog was dehydrated and left outside for extended periods of time. Westbrook also accused the owner of being “a drunk.”
Holmes asked westbrook why she had not called the police or the animal control officer directly to which Westbrook had no reply. Homes also noted in her report that Westbrook continually steered the conversation in other directions, repeatedly mentioning issues with Gonya and the lease of the residence.
Jackson, the woman who unknowingly took the stolen dog, was upset about the ordeal and did not wish to give up the puppy as her four-year-old daughter had become attached to it. Holmes informed Jackson that she could not keep the puppy as it was now classified as stolen property. Jackson also informed Holmes that upon giving the puppy to her, Westbrook had asked her to lie to police in the event she was ever questioned about how she obtained the puppy. Jackson told Westbrook she would not lie which she claimed seemed to make Westbrook “nervous.”
Oliver, also a student studying veterinary sciences at UMaine, spoke about the events she witnessed on Sept. 14.
“She seemed nice and honest…she didn’t seem like she was trying to pull something off or anything,” said Oliver.
According to Oliver, Westbrook then went back outside where she began talking to a couple who had previously been in the shelter looking at the puppies.
“Before I could get outside…they were taking the puppy,” said Oliver.
Oliver also noted that the puppy appeared to be in perfect health.
“It was a happy, bouncing, energetic chocolate lab puppy,” she said.
Oliver stated that abandoned animals are not something out of the ordinary in the area but what transpired later did surprise her.
“About an hour after she left the shelter, she called to report her roommate’s dog had slipped [out of] his leash and escaped that day. And I thought, hmm…that’s kind of strange and that’s when the light bulb kind of went off,” said Oliver.
Oliver also commented on the fact that Westbrook is a student studying veterinary sciences who is now involved in an animal abduction case.
Oliver said when veterinarian’s apply for their state board exams it does not look good when a person is convicted of a crime.
In a final report by officer Holmes, she documented Gonya and Ledoux bringing the puppy into the police station on Sept. 15 to be photographed. Holmes observed the puppy to be “…a healthy and happy puppy.”
Westbrook is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 27 at 9:30 a.m. and faces a charge of theft.
Bangor Daily News