By JIM LARSEN

News-Times editor

An affectionate little pitbull named Molly was snatched from a locked Isuzu Trooper when it was parked at the Oak Harbor Safeway on Tuesday.

But the story has a happy ending, as Molly was recovered by her owners in a tumultuous scene at a local trailer park Thursday evening.

Molly, only four months old, is owned by Carolyn Howe and her fiance, Anthony Gravois.

Howe said the couple parked at Safeway at about 3:45 p.m. and left the vehicle for only about 10 minutes. When they returned, there was no Molly anxious to greet them.

“My pet was stolen,” Howe said sadly. “She’s sweet, we raised her to be a nice dog.”

Although pitbulls have a scary reputation, Molly was anything but scary. Howe described her as “my baby,” a dog who “loves her soft, squeaky toys … and if you said ‘attack’, she would lick your face.”

The couple were careful to lock the Isuzu before they headed into Safeway, but as the sun was shining they left one window partly rolled down to give Molly some air. Apparently there was enough space for someone to reach inside and grab Molly.

Howe and Gravois contacted the Oak Harbor police, Animal Control and Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation, but took it upon themselves to do the legwork needed to reclaim their beloved pet. Molly is a cross between an American bull and a Staffordshire.

They posted reward flyers all over town and drove through neighborhoods. Finally, they got a tip and it led to a local trailer park.

Gravois, speaking late Friday morning, said he saw Molly inside a trailer and made a dive for her. “Basically I had to wrestle the dog away,” he said. There were some upset people because Gravois said they were trying to claim the $1,000 reward being offered for the dog. He suspected someone there stole the dog, but he didn’t hang around to find out.

Gravois and Howe were driving away with Molly as sheriff’s deputies showed up. He didn’t know how that scene turned out. “We left,” he said. “We’re very excited to have Molly back.”

Oak Harbor Police Officer Mike Clements said the theft of a dog is rare, but when it occurs a pitbull is often the victim. “It’s a very sought after breed,” he said. In 10 years as a police officer he’s investigated several thefts of dogs, “but this is the first one out of a car.”

Terry Samson, Oak Harbor Animal Control officer, said it’s not unheard of for a dog to be stolen but “it doesn’t happen often.” He recalls a number of times when a dog was reported stolen when in fact it somehow escaped from a vehicle. “You’d be surprised what an animal can go through,” he said. “I’ve picked up many dogs in parking lots.”

While the saga of Molly ended happily, that isn’t always the case when dogs are left in cars.

With warm weather approaching, Samson advises against carrying animals around in a car. Leaving a window down can result in them escaping or being stolen, but shutting the windows can kill them.

“If the sun is out the car’s not a good place for your animal,” he said.

By NATHAN WHALEN

Staff reporter

For 17 years, Shotzie had a pretty good deal. The black and white kitty would show up at county offices in Coupeville, get fed, and then sleep for most of the day.

That is until he turned up missing. Now, workers are anxious to know where the county mascot is.

County staff last noticed him in mid-March, since then — nothing.

“He’d have a little snack and a treat and then he’d sleep for most of the day,” said Diana Vaughan, who works for the county’s central services.

Shotzie is well-known around Coupeville and local residents look out for the feline. He would often wander around town between the county campus and the hospital.

“He thinks he’s the mayor of Coupeville,” said Marion Sasso, who owns Shotzie. Regardless of where he went, he would always head home at the end of the day.

Vaughan was one of the last people to see Shotzie in the county building. She fed him on March 15 and then he disappeared.

He has been known to disappear before. Years ago, he stowed away on a pickup truck and ended up in Oak Harbor. After a well-placed story in the Whidbey News-Times, he was quickly found and returned to the county offices.

“He does have a habit of getting into other people’s cars,” Sasso said.

Worried that Shotzie is getting older, she said staff would like to know the fate of the feline. Sasso is concerned about Shotzie’s health because he ate some of the recalled pet food before he was discovered missing.

If anyone sees Shotzie, please call 678-9167 or 360-320-1721.