NORTH UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Two puppies are still missing, but a new volunteer at the Steve Courson Humane Society of Fayette County was arrested Tuesday in connection with a break-in after hours.
"There are blood splatters all up the steps. The front window was punched in (and) there is blood there. The officers took DNA from the blood samples," said Theresa Linden, an animal control officer at the shelter in North Union Township.
An interview with the getaway driver helped state police arrest Craig Rugg, 20, on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
The driver was not identified in the affidavit filed by Trooper Michael Irwin.
According to the affidavit, the driver brought Rugg to the shelter on North Gallatin Avenue just after midnight Saturday and saw him enter through a basement window.
Then, the driver heard "banging and noise coming from the second floor" and saw Rugg came out with a shirt wrapped around his bleeding hand about 10 minutes later, the affidavit said.
Rugg told the driver that he hurt his hand while he was trying to steal a safe from the building, according to the affidavit.
Rugg is not charged with stealing any animals, so it's unclear what happened to both of the 9-week-old puppies that are missing. Linden said it's possible that they could have left through an open window during or after the break-in.
State police have yet to make a public comment on Rugg's arrest. The young Connellsville man was taken to the county prison on $50,000 bail.
Both missing dogs are pit bull-boxer mixes. Linden said she fears they could be used for breeding, dog fighting or animal sacrifices.
"These people who are out in this township, they take these animals and they kill them and they sacrifice them," said Linden.
Linden said she and a co-worker previously responded to an incident where three dogs died after they were hung from trees.
"There were three dogs there. When we got there, we found one because they took the other two. They burned the dog and there was no blood in it. They'll kill them and hang them in trees," said Linden.
Linden said her next step will be to install security cameras at the shelter.
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